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THE 

MYSTERIES  OF  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 

VOLUME  VII 


"AS  SHE  COMBED  OUT  HER  LONG  BLACK  HAIR" 

Photogravure  from  original  by  Bird. 


Volume  II 

of  ICottJian 


For  Members  of 


Of  this  edition,  printed  for  members  of  The 
Oxford  Society,  but  One  Thousand  copies 
have  been  issued,  of  which  this  is  copy 

5?0..4.^.4  


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.    The  Marriage   1 

II.    An  Aristocratic  Pair   10 

III.  The  Bills  of  Exchange   21 

IV.  The  Chandler's  Shop   33 

V.    The  Journey  to  Paris   48 

VI.  Fashionable  Depravity    ,       ....  62 

VII.  Another  Phase  of  Fashionable  Depravity  .  79 

VIII.  The  Reunion  of  the  Party  of  Six       .       .  89 

IX.    The  Banquet   97 

X.    The  Trial   112 

XI.    Unpleasant  Visitors   123 

XII.  Ernestina  and  the  Prince     ....  136 

XIII.  The  Prisoner  in  the  Chair     ....  145 

XIV.  Newgate   153 

XV.  A  Chapter  to  Which  We  Can  Give  No  Title  162 

XVI.    The  Gibbet   169 

XVII.  The  Prefecture  of  Police     ....  185 

XVITI.  Lord  and  Lady  Sackville      ....  203 

XIX.    The  King's  Bench   217 

XX.    A  Scene  in  the  Dark   235 

XXI.  The  Prefect  and  His  Guests  ....  243 

XXII.  The  Hangman  in  His  Glory  Again       .  .261 

XXIII.  The  Consultation   277 

XXIV.  Nell  Gibson   284 

XXV.  Venetia  and  Her  Admirers    .       .       .  .291 

XXVL    The  Boudoir   303 

XXVII.  The  Lamb  amongst  the  Wolves  in  Sheep's 

Clothing   316 

XXVIII.  The  Wolves  Throwing  Off  Their  Disguise  .  327 

V 


vi  CONTENTS 

CHAPTEB  PAGE 

XXIX.    The  Sisters   337 

XXX.    Shooter's  Hill   353 

XXXI.    The  Fair  Stranger   367 

XXXII.  The  Jolly  Wagoner  —  Fresh  Perils  .       .  376 

XXXIII.  The  Interesting  Invalid      ....  388 

XXXIV.  The  Rake  and  the  Rake's  Victim      .       .  399 
XXXV.  More  Plotting  and  Counterplotting        .  408 

XXXVI.  Another  Lamb  in  the  Lion's  Den      .       .  422 

XXXVII.    A  Catastrophe   428 

XXXVIII.    Syncope  and  Tetanus   443 

XXXIX.    The  Trance  Continued   453 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

"As    SHE    COMBED    OUT    HER     LONG    BLACK    HAIR  "  (^See 

Page  62)   .  Frontispiece 

"  *  Let  me  pillow  my  head  here  '  "  140 

"Leaning  pensively  against  a  pillar"  .  .  .  215 
"As  SHE  lolled  in  the  armchair  near  the  fire"  .  288 
"  As  he  rushed  with  her  down  the  staircase  "  .       .  418 


THE  MYSTERIES  OF  THE 
COURT  OF  LONDON 

CHAPTER  I 

THE  MARRIAGE 

In  George  Street,  leading  into  Hanover  Square,  stands 
St.  George's  Church,  which  is  the  most  fashionable  temple 
of  Hymen  within  the  precincts  of  the  metropolis.  It  is 
aristocratic  in  appearance  as  well  as  by  repute,  —  not  even 
the  sanctity  of  reUgion  and  the  meekness  of  the  Christian 
faith  having  been  able  to  rescue  it  from  the  intrusive  pomp, 
ostentation,  and  vain  parade  of  the  frivolous,  heartless,  and 
empty-headed  upper  classes.  The  panels  in  front  of  the 
galleries  are  emblazoned  with  the  names  of  the  noble 
lords,"  right  honourables,"  and  honourables,"  who  have 
from  time  to  time  filled  the  office  of  churchwardens;  the 
decorations  of  the  pews  show  that  they  are  intended  for  the 
ease  and  comfort  of  the  higher  orders;  "  and  the  general 
aspect  of  the  interior  is     eminently  fashionable." 

An  arched  recess,  with  a  painted  window,  enshrines  the 
altar,  which  is  set  in  a  sculptured  framework.  The  window 
is  essentially  of  the  Romish  sacred  architecture;  and  this 
effect  is  heightened  into  an  appearance  of  positive  Cathol- 
icism not  only  by  the  representation  of  the  Virgin  and 
Child,  the  Dove,  and  the  Crucifixion,  in  the  stained  glass, 
but  also  by  the  magnificent  picture  of  the  Last  Supper 
behind  the  communion  table. 

It  was  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Wednesday, 
September  25,  1814,  that  a  tall,  slender,  handsome  young 

1 


2 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


gentleman,  dressed  in  deep  mourning,  slowly  ascended  the 
steps  of  the  portico  and  entered  St.  George's  Church,  the 
doors  of  which  were  already  opened.  His  countenance  w^as 
pale  and  full  of  a  deep  melancholy;  there  was  something 
peculiarly  touching  and  profoundly  interesting  in  its  ex- 
pression; and  amiabiUty,  goodness,  and  generosity  were  at 
the  same  time  blended  in  every  trait. 

On  entering  the  church,  the  young  gentleman  proceeded 
straight  to  the  vestry,  where  the  clerk  was  seated  at  a  table 
poring  over  one  of  the  huge  parish  registers. 

Good  morning,  Mr.  Malvern  —  or  Sir  Valentine  Malvern, 
as  I  suppose  I  ought  to  call  you,"  said  the  clerk,  rising  from 
his  seat  and  making  a  low  bow. 

It  is  true  that  my  friends  wish  me  to  assume  the  family 
honours,  as  they  have  already  persuaded  me  to  take  the 
management  of  the  estate,"  observed  the  young  gentleman, 
with  a  profound  sigh;  but  I  cannot  endure  the  thought 
of  adopting  a  course  which,  after  all,  might  prove  an  usur- 
pation." 

"  I  wish  that  I  could  give  you  any  hope,  sir,  of  your 
lamented  father's  restoration,"  said  the  clerk.  I  had 
known  him  for  many  years,  ever  since  he  first  came  to 
live  in  Hanover  Square,  and  I  have  therefore  known  you 
also.  Sir  Valentine,  from  your  childhood  —  " 

"  Do  not  address  me  as  if  I  were  already  in  possession  of 
the  title,  my  good  friend,"  interrupted  Malvern.  "  I  have 
vowed  to  suffer  a  year  to  pass  before  I  will  consider  my 
father  as  really  dead,  although,  to  speak  candidly,  Mr. 
Jackson,  I  feel  that  I  am  hoping  against  hope's  extinction, 
and  therefore  in  very  desperation." 

"  Alas!  yes,  Mr.  Malvern,  —  since  it  is  thus  that  you 
choose  to  be  still  called,"  observed  the  clerk;  "  so  mysterious 
a  disappearance,  happening  all  on  a  sudden,  and  without 
leaving  a  trace  behind,  cannot  be  accounted  for  otherwise 
than  by  the  supposition  that  accident  or  foul  play  must  have 
overtaken  the  unfortunate  gentleman.  If  it  was  an  accident, 
sir,  some  clue  would  have  been  discovered;  and  therefore  — " 
Proceed  not,  Jackson,  — 'tis  too  dreadful  to  reflect 
upon,"  interrupted  Malvern.  Then,  as  if  to  divert  his 
thoughts  from  the  melancholy  topic,  he  said,  "  Have  you 
found  the  entry  in  the  register  of  births?  " 

"  I  have,  sir,"  replied  Jackson.   "  You  were  born  on  the 


THE  MARRIAGE 


3 


3d  of  July,  1792,  and  therefore  you  are  a  little  past  twenty- 
two  years  old.  I  suppose  your  trustees  require  official  proof 
of  your  having  attained  your  majority?  " 

"  Precisely  so,"  answered  Valentine.  It  is  a  mere 
matter  of  form,  inasmuch  as  they  are  relatives  of  mine  and 
know  full  well  my  exact  age.  But  still  it  is  necessary  to 
have  everything  regular,  and  therefore  you  must  give  me  a 
certificate." 

"  To  be  sure,  Mr.  Malvern/'  returned  the  clerk;  and  he 
proceeded  to  fill  up  the  usual  form,  which  he  handed  to 
Valentine.  ^'  By  the  bye,  sir,"  he  observed,  "  we  are  going 
to  have  a  wedding  in  a  few  minutes.  I  did  not  know  last 
evening,  when  I  met  you  in  the  square  and  you  told  me  that 
you  required  your  baptismal  certificate,  I  did  not  know, 
I  say,  that  I  should  have  to  visit  the  church  for  another 
purpose  this  morning.  Not  that  marriages  are  rare  at  St. 
George's,  Heaven  knows.  Quite  the  contrary.  But  it  was 
only  late  last  evening  that  I  received  the  intimation  that 
there  was  one  for  this  morning;  and  being  a  special  license, 
I  suppose  it  is  rather  a  hurried  affair,"  added  the  clerk,  in  a 
mysterious  whisper;  for  he  was  evidently  a  man  of  garrulous 
propensities,  although  of  kind  disposition  and  inoffensive 
nature. 

"  Who  are  the  happy  pair?  "  asked  Valentine,  not  choos- 
ing to  offend  the  worthy  man  by  cutting  short  the  discourse 
abruptly,  but  in  reality  experiencing  not  the  slightest 
interest  in  the  question  which  he  had  just  put. 

"Mr.  Horace  Sackville  and  Miss  Venetia  Trelawney," 
replied  the  clerk.  Miss  Trelawney,  you  know,  is  a  cele- 
brated beauty,  —  indeed,  the  most  lovely  woman  that  ever 
was  seen.  So  I  am  informed,  at  least;  for  I  have  never  seen 
her,  to  my  knowledge." 

Nor  I,  either,"  observed  Valentine.  Then,  impelled  by 
some  undefinable  feeling  of  curiosity,  he  said,  "  I  shall 
remain  and  witness  the  ceremony." 

''Ah!  sir,"  remarked  Jackson,  shaking  his  head  solemnly, 
"  these  fashionable  marriages  that  take  place  in  this  church 
often  set  me  a-thinking  in  a  strange  way.  I  have  seen  young 
and  beautiful  creatures  almost  dragged,  as  it  were,  to  the 
altar,  to  bestow  their  hands  upon  drivelling  dotards  old 
enough  to  be  their  grandfathers;  and  I  have  afterward 
watched  their  career  in  the  world  with  great  interest  and 


4 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


anxiety.  The  wives  in  these  cases  always  turned  out  wrong 
sooner  or  later;  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  there  have  been 
elopements,  crim.  cons.,  divorces,  and  other  disgraceful 
scenes.  Then,  again,  I  have  beheld  young  bridegrooms 
leading  withered  old  women  to  that  altar,  —  spendthrifts, 
who,  having  run  through  their  own  fortunes,  obtain  by 
marriage  an  opportunity  of  running  through  the  fortunes  of 
others.  Yes,  sir,  I  have  seen  many,  many  marriages  in  this 
church,  but  few,  very  few  indeed  that  were  for  real  love  and 
have  led  to  happiness.  To  tell  you  the  truth,  Mr.  Malvern, 
I  don't  think  the  upper  classes,  generally  speaking,  have 
got  any  hearts  at  all,  and  if  they  have,  they're  seldom  or 
never  in  the  right  place." 

Most  assuredly  the  English  aristocracy  is  not  distin- 
guished for  morality,  generosity,  or  intelligence,"  observed 
Valentine. 

At  this  moment  the  clergyman  entered  the  vestry;  and 
Valentine  being  well  acquainted  with  him,  they  conversed 
together  for  a  few  minutes.  But  as  the  time  for  the  ceremony 
was  now  at  hand,  Malvern  retired  into  the  church,  where  he 
entered  a  pew  near  the  altar. 

At  that  moment  there  were  no  other  spectators  present; 
but  scarcely  had  Valentine  taken  his  seat  when  the  Earl 
of  Curzon  made  his  appearance  in  the  church  and  walked 
slowly  up  the  aisle.  He  was  pale  and  evidently  much 
annoyed,  although  he  endeavoured  to  conceal  his  vexation. 
Observing  Valentine,  with  whom  he  was  well  acquainted, 
he  entered  the  same  pew  and  sat  down  by  his  side.  While 
they  were  conversing  in  a  subdued  tone,  Sir  Douglas  Hunting- 
don arrived,  and  also  walking  up  the  aisle,  he  noticed  the 
earl  and  Malvern,  whom  he  immediately  joined.  His 
looks  were  perfectly  good-humoured;  and  by  the  very  first 
remark  he  made,  he  showed  that  he  had  not  come  thither  by 
accident,  nor  was  a  stranger  to  the  ceremony  about  to  take 
place. 

"  Are  you  interested  at  all,  Malvern,  in  Miss  Trelawney's 
marriage?  "  he  inquired,  with  a  smile. 

"  How  can  I  be?  "  asked  the  young  gentleman.  "  I  do 
not  know  her,  nor  do  I  beheve  that  I  have  ever  seen  her. 
I  came  to  the  church  on  some  business  with  the  clerk,  and 
hearing  of  what  was  about  to  take  place,  I  remained  to  wit- 
ness the  ceremony." 


THE  MARRIAGE  ^  5 

"  How  did  you  know  of  it?  "  inquired  the  Earl  of  Curzon, 
in  a  whisper  to  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon. 

"  Oh,  from  some  secret  information,"  answered  the 
baronet.   "  How  did  you?  " 

Also  from  some  secret  source/'  was  the  earl's  response. 
"  You  do  not  appear  to  care  about  it  at  all." 

What  is  the  use?  "  said  Huntingdon.  "  Sackville  is  a 
lucky  dog,  that  is  all  I  can  say.  I  shall  offer  him  and  Venetia 
my  congratulations.  But  you  seem  to  be  particularly 
chagrined." 

''I  did  not  think  it  possible  that  the  matter  could  have 
ended  thus,"  replied  Curzon,  petulantly.  "  But  here  they 
come!  " 

The  doors  at  the  entrance  were  thrown  open  as  the  earl 
was  speaking;  and  the  whispered  colloquy,  which  Valentine 
Malvern  did  not  overhear,  was  thus  cut  short. 

The  bridal  party  entered  the  church.  It  consisted  of 
Venetia  Trelawney,  Horace  Sackville,  Mrs.  Arbuthnot,  her 
daughter  Penelope,  Miss  Bathurst,  Doctor  Copperas,  and 
two  or  three  other  ladies  and  gentlemen,  all  the  arrangements 
having  been  made  under  the  supervision  of  Miss  Bathurst, 
who,  be  it  remembered,  was  Horace  Sackville's  aunt. 

As  the  reader  may  suppose,  Venetia  looked  transcendently 
beautiful  in  her  virgin  raiment.  Her  countenance  was  pale; 
her  looks  were  downcast,  and  the  long  fringes  that  veiled 
her  deep  blue  eyes  rested  upon  her  cheeks.  A  gentle  melan- 
choly and  soft  bashfulness  blended  in  the  expression  of  her 
features;  but  she  seemed  far  loveher  at  this  moment  of 
timidity  and  embarrassment  than  when  radiant  with  the 
smiles  of  triumph  or  dignified  in  the  presence  of  insult. 
Above  her  forehead,  within  the  elegant  white  bonnet,  lay 
her  rich  auburn  hair,  of  velvet  smoothness,  and  having  the 
appearance  of  dark  gold  as  the  prismatic  Ught  from  the 
painted  window  fell  upon  it.  The  virgin  drapery  displayed 
all  the  grand  contours  and  flowing  outlines  of  her  shape, 
that  form  in  which  voluptuous  fulness  was  so  admirably 
blended  with  symmetrical  proportion.  Nor  was  the  dress 
itself  whiter  than  the  bosom  of  which  it  allowed  transient 
glimpses,  and  the  sweUing  volume  of  which  gave  such 
richness  to  her  figure  in  a  profile  view  and  rendered  the 
waist  more  delicate  than  even  it  really  was. 

Horace  Sackville  experienced  a  joy  which  beamed  in  his 


6 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


looks,  and  a  disinterested  beholder  would  have  thought 
that  so  handsome  and  elegant  a  young  man  was  indeed  well 
fitted  to  lead  so  charming  a  bride  to  the  altar.  Miss  Bathurst 
and  Penelope,  who  officiated  as  bridesmaids,  were  both 
beautifully  dressed,  as  was  also  Mrs.  Arbuthnot;  and  Doctor 
Copperas,  proud  of  the  honour  of  being  selected  to  give  the 
bride  away,  whispered  to  Miss  Bathurst  that  his  only  regret 
was  that  so  eminent  a  man  and  shrewd  an  observer  of 
human  nature  as  Doctor  Thurston  was  not  present  to  enrich 
his  phrenological  knowledge  by  contemplating  the  counte- 
nances of  the  happy  couple." 

On  passing  toward  the  altar,  Sackville  noticed  Sir 
Douglas  Huntingdon  and  the  Earl  of  Curzon,  to  whom 
he  bowed,  and  he  could  not  prevent  a  gleam  of  triumph 
from  appearing  for  a  moment  upon  his  countenance.  The 
baronet  returned  his  salutation  with  friendly  famiUarity, 
the  earl  with  cold  hauteur.  Venetia  looked  neither  to  the 
right  nor  to  the  left,  and  did  not  therefore  observe  them. 

Not  only,  however,  was  she  noticed  by  her  two  unsuccess- 
ful suitors,  but  also  by  Valentine  Malvern,  who  started  on 
catching  the  first  glimpse  of  her  countenance,  for  it  instan- 
taneously struck  him  that  he  had  seen  her  before.  The 
where,  the  when,  and  the  circumstances  also  flashed  to  his 
mind  in  a  moment;  and  he  contemplated  her  with  a  more 
earnest  attention  as  she  passed  up  the  central  avenue  of  the 
church.  There  was  a  mingled  expression  of  astonishment 
and  doubt  in  his  features  as  he  thus  followed  her  with  his 
eyes;  and  when  she  reached  the  altar  and  her  countenance 
was  no  longer  visible,  her  back  being  now  turned  toward 
him,  he  said,  in  a  low  whisper,  to  the  Earl  of  Curzon,  Is 
that  Miss  Trelawney?  " 

It  is,"  replied  the  nobleman. 

Then  I  must  be  mistaken,"  thought  Valentine  to  him- 
self; but  resuming  his  seat  in  the  pew  and  bending  his  head 
forward,  he  gave  way  to  the  reflections  that  were  now  upper- 
most in  his  mind. 

The  clergyman  and  clerk  had  in  the  meantime  taken  their 
places  at  the  communion  table,  and  the  marriage  ceremony 
commenced.  Scarcely  had  it  begun  when  two  more  in- 
dividuals entered  the  church,  one  taking  his  place  somewhat 
noisily  in  a  pew,  and  the  other  planting  himself  in  the  re- 
motest angle  of  the  sacred  edifice.   The  former  was  Captain 


THE  MARRIAGE 


7 


Tash,  whose  nose  seemed  to  indicate  that  his  morning 
draught  at  the  Green  Dragon  had  been  none  of  the  weakest ; 
the  latter  was  his  man  Robin,  who  appeared  quite  astonished 
at  finding  himself  inside  a  church,  especially  the  most 
fashionable  one  of  the  West  End. 

The  ceremony  was  completed,  and  Venetia  became  the 
wife  of  Horace  Sackville.  The  happy  pair  received  the 
congratulations  of  those  who  belonged  to  the  bridal  party; 
and  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  advancing  with  a  frank 
affability,  requested  permission  to  offer  his  congratulations 
Hkewise.  As  for  the  Earl  of  Curzon,  he  remained  in  the 
pew  for  a  few  moments  longer;  then,  suddenly  prompted 
by  some  thought,  he  followed  the  baronet  toward  the  altar. 

Venetia  had  received  the  congratulations  of  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon  in  the  same  spirit  in  which  they  were  evidently 
offered;  but  the  moment  her  eyes  met  the  looks  of  the  Earl 
of  Curzon,  a  flush  of  displeasure  appeared  upon  her  counte- 
nance. 

"  I  congratulate  you,  Mrs.  Sackville,  upon  this  happy 
occasion,"  he  said,  in  a  low  tone  and  with  accents  that  were 
full  of  a  malignant  irony;  then,  turning  abruptly  away,  as 
Venetia  drew  herself  up  haughtily,  he  took  Horace  aside  for 
an  instant,  muttering  in  his  ear,  "  I  congratulate  you  also 
upon  your  marriage  with  one  who  has  abandoned  herself 
both  to  Leveson  and  the  prince,  and  on  the  same  evening, 
too." 

He  then  turned  away  and  walked  out  of  the  church,  fol- 
lowed by  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon.  Sackville,  who  was 
staggered  for  a  moment,  almost  instantaneously  recovered 
himself;  and  giving  his  arm  to  his  lovely  bride,  he  led  her 
toward  the  vestry,  where  the  register  was  to  be  signed.  This 
ceremony  being  completed,  the  party  quitted  the  church. 

Two  carriages  were  waiting  at  the  door  to  convey  the 
company  to  Miss  Bathurst's  residence  in  Stratton  Street, 
where  an  elegant  repast  was  prepared.  Lady  Wenlock, 
the  Honourable  George  Macnamara,  and  Lieutenant  Apsley 
of  the  Guards,  who  had  been  invited,  were  already  there; 
and  the  usual  healths  were  drunk.  Doctor  Copperas,  in 
making  a  speech,  observed  that  it  was  assuredly  the  hap- 
piest morning  he  had  ever  passed  in  all  his  life,  with  the  one 
exception  of  the  memorable  and  never-to-be-forgotten  day 
on  which  he  first  had  the  honour  of  being  introduced  to 


8 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


that  extraordinary  man,  the  ornament  of  his  profession, 
Doctor  Thurston." 

The  breakfast  was  over,  a  footman  announced  that  the 
carriage  was  in  readiness,  and  Sackville  handed  his  bride  into 
the  vehicle.  The  serious-looking  old  Hvery  servant  and 
Jessica  were  seated  in  the  rumble  behind;  the  trunks  were 
packed  upon  the  roof,  and,  all  being  in  readiness,the  postilion 
drove  away  at  a  rapid  rate. 

The  happy  couple  were  bound  for  Brighton,  where  they 
intended  to  pass  a  few  days.  They  spoke  but  little  until 
the  traveUing-carriage  was  beyond  the  southern  outskirts 
of  London;  but  they  sat  with  their  hands  united  in  each 
other's  clasp,  and  exchanging  fond  looks.  For  Horace  adored 
and  worshipped  the  charming  creature  who  had  become 
his  bride;  and  Venetia  was  not  indifferent  to  the  fervid 
attachment,  the  personal  appearance,  and  the  elegant  man- 
ners of  him  who  was  now  her  husband. 

Did  not  Curzon  whisper  something  annoying  in  your 
ears,  Horace?  "  inquired  Venetia,  at  length,  a  slight  flush 
appearing  upon  her  countenance.  Tell  me  what  he  said," 
she  urged,  seeing  that  Sackville  hesitated  to  reply. 

He  said  that  he  was  aware  of  your  visit  to  Lord  Leve- 
son  and  also  to  the  prince  on  the  same  evening,"  answered 
Horace. 

"And  so  were  you,"  replied  Venetia,  laughing.  ''But 
you  were  also  acquainted  with  the  particulars  of  these 
interviews  and  the  results  of  each." 

''  I  was  nevertheless  startled  at  the  moment,  my  angel," 
said  Horace;  "  because  I  could  not  possibly  conceive  how 
the  earl  came  to  learn  that  you  had  paid  those  visits." 

"  He  employed  spies  to  follow  me,"  said  Venetia,  her 
musical  laugh  sounding  dehciously  upon  her  husband's 
ears,  although  he  felt  deeply  indignant  at  the  announcement 
which  excited  her  gaiety.  "  I  discovered  it  all  yesterday; 
his  spies  were  even  in  the  church  ere  now.  But  let  us  con- 
verse on  other  matters  for  the  present;  and  I  will  tell  you 
all  about  the  spies  on  some  future  occasion." 

"Be  it  so,  dearest,"  said  Horace,  as  he  gazed  with  inex- 
pressible devotion  on  the  lovely  creature  who  was  now  his 
own. 

Meantime,  Valentine  Malvern  had  returned  to  his  own 
house  at  No.  20,  Hanover  Square,  his  mind  filled  with  the 


THE  MARRIAGE 


9 


image  of  Venetia;  and  he  even  reproached  himself  fre- 
quently during  the  remainder  of  the  day  for  allowing  the 
incidents  of  the  morning  to  divert  his  thoughts  at  all  from  the 
painful  topic  on  which  they  were  hitherto  wont  to  be  settled, 
namely,  the  unaccounted-for  disappearance  of  his  father. 
Sir  Archibald. 

With  regard  to  the  happy  couple,  we  might  record  all  the 
tender  and  interesting  things  which  they  said  to  each  other 
during  the  ride  to  Brighton.  We  might  say  how  they  reached 
that  fashionable  watering-place  at  a  late  hour  in  the  evening, 
how  they  took  up  their  quarters  at  the  principal  hotel,  and 
how  they  both  longed,  with  a  secret  rapture  which  they 
mutually  concealed,  for  the  arrival  of  the  moment  that  was 
to  crown  their  wedded  bliss.  But  we  must  not  dwell  upon 
those  details,  nor  prolong  unnecessarily  this  portion  of  our 
narrative.  If,  however,  we  may  penetrate  for  a  single  instant 
into  the  nuptial  chamber,  where  Jessica  hastily  divested 
her  mistress  of  her  apparel,  we  might  observe  that  never, 
never  had  Venetia  appeared  more  transcendently  lovely 
than  when,  with  blushing  cheeks  and  heaving  bosom,  she 
heard  her  faithful  attendant  expatiate  upon  the  hand- 
some appearance  of  the  bridegroom.  We  might  add  that  in 
the  meantime  Horace  himself  was  waiting  with  all  possible 
anxiety  in  an  adjacent  dressing-room;  and  we  might  close 
our  observations  by  stating  that  when  at  length  Jessica  had 
withdrawn,  and  the  happy  pair  were  clasped  in  each  other's 
arms,  they  both  forgot  any  disagreeable  circumstances  which 
pertained  to  their  union,  and  abandoned  themselves  to 
those  delights  which  Milton  did  not  deem  unworthy  to  be 
apostrophized  and  honoured  in  his  immortal  verse. 


CHAPTER  II 


AN  ARISTOCRATIC  PAIR 

It  was  about  noon  on  the  day  of  the  marriage  just  de- 
scribed, and  a  beautiful  lady  was  lounging  negligently 
upon  a  sofa  in  a  handsomely  furnished  apartment  at  a 
mansion  in  Grosvenor  Street. 

She  was  about  six  and  twenty  years  of  age,  of  middle 
height,  and  of  dark  but  clear  complexion.  There  was  a 
peculiar  beauty  in  the  full  lips  of  bright  scarlet;  and  these, 
together  with  her  flashing  eyes  and  decisively  pencilled 
brows,  indicated  the  warmth  of  her  temperament. 

Her  countenance  was  of  an  Oriental  style  of  loveliness, 
irradiated,  as  it  were,  with  a  dark  yet  glowing  lustre.  Her 
hair  was  not  precisely  of  sable  blackness,  but  had  that  purple 
and  glossy  hue  which  made  it  shining,  soft,  and  smooth  as 
velvet;  its  luxuriance  was  remarkable,  and,  the  lady's 
toilet  not  having  as  yet  been  achieved,  the  heavy  tresses 
hung  in  massive  clusters  upon  the  firm,  plump,  and  polished 
shoulders.  Her  profile  was  softly  aquiline,  without  anything 
approaching  to  prominency  of  feature,  save  in  respect  to  the 
lips,  which  were  luscious  and  full,  but  not  coarse.  The  teeth 
which  they  revealed,  when  parting  in  smiles  that  breathed 
a  tender  sensuousness,  were  of  pearly  whiteness;  and  her 
looks  were  brilliant  and  animated,  with  a  provocative 
expression  of  subdued  wantonness. 

Her  bust  was  purely  sculptural,  the  chest  being  somewhat 
narrow,  and  the  bosoms  by  no  means  exuberant,  but  of 
sufficient  development  to  mark  the  statue-like  contours  of 
her  shape.  They  were  well  detached,  rising  in  perfect 
hemispheres,  and  sustaining  the  beauty  of  their  proportions 
by  their  own  firmness;  for  at  the  moment  we  are  describing 
this  lady  she  wore  neither  corset  nor  artificial  means 

10 


AN  ARISTOCRATIC  PAIR 


11 


of  compressure.  An  elegant  morning- wrapper  was  drawn 
loosely  around  her  form,  and  confined  at  the  waist  by  a 
broad  ribbon  negligently  tied. 

Her  arms  were  not  stout,  but  most  symmetrically  mod- 
elled; and  nothing  could  exceed  the  beauty  of  her  hand,  with 
the  pellucid  nails  seeming  like  supporting  arches  to  the  taper 
fingers,  and  of  a  rosy  tint.  Her  feet  were  long  and  narrow; 
the  ankles  were  not  too  slight,  but  perfectly  rounded,  and 
swelling  gradually  upward  into  a  fine  development  of  limb. 
Passion  was  in  her  looks,  but  a  voluptuous  and  dreamy 
langour  was  in  her  attitude  as  she  reclined  upon  the  sofa. 

The  Oriental  duskiness  of  her  complexion,  appearing  like 
the  softest  and  most  delicate  tinge  of  bronze,  made  her 
seem  a  warm  and  glowing  creature,  with  the  hottest  blood 
running  in  her  veins  and  ready  to  mantle  in  crimson  flush 
upon  the  countenance  at  the  slightest  emotion.  Then  how 
eloquent  would  become  her  features  with  those  ardent  and 
passionate  blushes,  but  eloquent  only  of  consuming  sensu- 
ousness  or  some  other  feeling  equally  intense.  She  did  not 
seem  a  woman  who  could  love  fondly,  but  furiously,  not 
a  being  susceptible  of  any  lasting  impression,  but  full  of 
erratic  longings  and  desires.  Nevertheless,  as  if  profoundly 
conscious  of  her  own  nature  and  understanding  all  the 
weakness  as  well  as  all  the  strength  of  her  soul,  she  assumed 
in  society  a  look  of  calm  bashfulness  and  modest  reserve, 
which  led  even  the  most  experienced  observer  to  suppose 
that  she  was  a  woman  whose  fervid  temperament  was  kept 
under  becoming  restraint  by  an  innate  virtue  and  sense  of 
propriety  that  rose  dominant  above  her  passions. 

Such  was  Editha,  the  Countess  of  Curzon. 

Though  the  aristocracy,  generally  speaking,  are  licen- 
tious and  immoral  to  a  degree,  there  are  certain  families 
belonging  to  that  sphere  who  are  more  than  the  rest  noto- 
rious for  hereditary  profligacy.  Depravity  would  seem  to 
run  in  their  blood,  and  to  be  as  traditionary  as  their  titles 
and  estates.  The  factitious  honour  of  birth  and  the  flagrant 
dishonour  of  conduct  would  appear  to  be  a  concurrent 
heritage  in  these  cases.  To  such  a  family  did  Lady  Curzon 
belong.  She  was  one  of  six  sisters;  all  were  heiresses,  all 
were  married,  and  Editha  was  the  only  one  of  the  six  who 
had  not  proved  faithful  to  the  family  character  by  being 
convicted  in  a  court  of  justice  of  being  unfaithful  to  her 


12 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


husband.  The  five  sisters  were  all  divorced,  and  had  either 
married  again  or  were  living  in  a  disreputable  manner  with 
paramours.  Whether  Editha  was  really  faithful  to  the  Earl 
of  Curzon  will  presently  transpire;  at  all  events,  scandal 
had  never  breathed  a  sentence  against  her  reputation.  Her 
mother  had  been  a  notorious  demirep,  her  aunts  were  all 
invested  with  the  same  unenviable  notoriety;  and  Editha 
was  the  only  female  scion  of  her  family  who  had  reached  the 
age  of  twenty-six  without  figuring  in  a  trial  for  crim.  con., 
or  in  a  divorce  case  before  the  House  of  Lords. 

She  was  lounging,  as  already  stated,  upon  the  sofa,  when 
the  door  opened  and  her  husband  entered  the  room.  After 
having  witnessed  the  marriage  of  Venetia  and  Horace  at 
St.  George's  Church,  he  had  taken  a  walk  in  the  park  to 
endeavour  to  dissipate  his  ill-humour  and  vexation;  but 
this  condition  of  feeling  was  only  aggravated,  instead  of 
becoming  appeased,  the  more  he  gave  way  to  thought.  He 
accordingly  returned  home  at  about  noon;  and,  although 
he  was  not  accustomed  to  vouchsafe  much  of  his  company 
to  his  wife,  the  fantasy  nevertheless  took  hold  of  him  to 
seek  her  presence  on  this  occasion. 

"  Well,  Editha,  all  alone,  and  not  dressed  yet? "  he 
exclaimed,  flinging  himself  into  a  chair  at  some  distance 
from  where  she  was  reclining  on  the  sofa. 

It  is  too  early  for  visitors,  and  I  do  not  feel  incHned  to 
go  out  in  the  carriage  to-day,"  she  answered,  in  a  manner 
not  precisely  cold,  but  indifferent. 

"  By  the  bye,  you  asked  me  for  some  money  yesterday," 
observed  the  nobleman,  and  I  promised  to  give  you  some 
to-day.  Here  are  a  couple  of  hundred  guineas.  I  borrowed 
two  thousand  of  Emmerson,  a  bill-broker  in  the  City." 

"Ah!  I  have  heard  the  name  before,"  said  Editha.  "  But 
what  do  you  suppose  I  can  do  with  two  hundred  guineas 
toward  paying  all  that  is  owing?  " 

You  must  do  what  you  can,  my  dear,"  replied  the  earl, 
with  perfect  unconcern.  "  I  wanted  the  remainder  for  my 
own  special  purposes." 

At  this  moment  a  servant  entered  the  room  bearing  a 
letter  on  a  silver  tray,  which  she  handed  to  the  countess. 
She  took  it  languidly,  supposing  that  it  was  a  note  of  invita- 
tion or  frivolous  correspondence  from  some  female  friend; 
but  the  instant  she  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  handwriting. 


AN  ARISTOCRATIC  PAIR 


13 


she  started  slightly,  in  a  scarcely  perceptible  manner,  while 
a  gentle  flush  appeared  upon  her  countenance.  The  earl, 
who  was  observing  her  at  the  instant,  noticed  that  little 
movement  and  this  transient  glow;  and  he  said,  Who  is 
your  correspondent?  " 

"  No  one  of  any  importance,"  replied  Editha;  and  having 
hastily  scanned  the  contents  of  the  note,  she  thrust  it  into 
her  bosom. 

The  earl  was  neither  astonished  by  the  evasive  answer 
which  she  gave  him,  nor  by  the  manner  in  which  she  thus 
disposed  of  the  letter,  for  they  had  long  ceased  to  be 
on  terms  of  mutual  confidence  and  were  not  accustomed  to 
communicate,  much  less  peruse,  each  other's  correspondence. 
But  he  had  noticed  the  start  and  the  flush,  and  a  suspicion, 
faint  as  the  first  glimmer  of  dawn  in  the  Oriental  sky, 
gleamed  in  his  brain. 

This  was  the  first  time  he  had  ever  entertained  an  idea 
derogatory  to  the  honour  of  his  wife.  On  the  contrary,  he 
had  hitherto  believed  her  strictly  faithful  to  her  marriage 
vows.  But  now  —  he  scarcely  knew  why  —  a  certain  uneasi- 
ness crept  slowly  upon  him.  That  start,  almost  imperceptible 
as  it  was,  and  that  blush,  faint  and  transient  though  it  were, 
had  engendered  a  vague  and  undefined  misgiving  in  his 
breast.  The  next  moment  he  found  himself  reflecting  upon 
the  fact  that  Editha  belonged  to  a  family  notorious  for  its 
profligacy;  and  he  knew  full  well  that  her  own  passions  were 
of  the  strongest,  most  fervid,  and  insatiable  description. 

All  these  thoughts  traversed  his  brain  in  a  few  moments; 
but  dissembling  the  incipient  uneasiness  which  he  experi- 
enced, and  suddenly  determining  not  to  excite  in  her  mind 
the  suspicion  that  he  even  entertained  such  a  misgiving, 
he  began  to  converse  upon  a  variety  of  ordinary  topics.  On 
the  other  hand,  Editha  fancied  that  her  temporary  emotion 
on  receiving  the  letter  had  escaped  his  observation;  and 
she  discoursed  with  more  gaiety  and  friendliness  than  she 
had  for  a  long  time  manifested  toward  her  husband. 

He  would  have  given  worlds  to  obtain  a  peep,  just  one 
peep,  at  that  letter;  but  the  thing  was  impracticable.  At 
one  moment  he  was  half-incUned  to  seat  himself  by  her 
side  and  begin  to  toy  and  dally  with  her;  but  such  a  course, 
by  being  most  unusual  on  his  part,  would  at  once  have 
excited  her  suspicions  as  to  his  real  object.    He  therefore 


14  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


abandoned  the  idea,  and  resolved  to  watch  her  move- 
ments. 

Luncheon  was  presently  served  up;  and  afterward  Lady 
Curzon  retired  to  her  chamber  to  dress.  The  earl  went  out 
to  visit  some  friends;  but  they  all  noticed  that  he  looked 
gloomy  and  absent.  At  six  he  returned  home  to  dinner; 
and  as  there  was  no  company  that  day,  he  and  his  wife 
were  alone  together.  He  drank  more  freely  than  usual,  and 
forced  himself  into  a  gaiety  which  was,  after  all,  so  w^ell 
assumed  that  it  entirely  deceived  the  countess. 

What  are  you  going  to  do  with  yourself  this  evening? 
he  inquired,  when  the  dessert  was  placed  upon  the  table  and 
the  domestics  had  withdrawn. 

"  I  was  thinking  of  passing  an  hour  or  two  with  Lady 
Lechmere,"  was  the  quiet  response. 

"  But  I  thought  you  did  not  purpose  to  go  out  to-day?  " 
said  Curzon,  regarding  her  furtively  but  with  earnest  atten- 
tion. 

I  meant  that  I  was  in  no  humour  to  take  my  usual  air- 
ing in  the  carriage,"  observed  Edit  ha,  glancing  toward  the 
timepiece  on  the  mantel. 

"  May  I  accompany  you  to  Lady  Lechmere's?  "  asked  the 
earl,  as  he  helped  himself  to  claret. 

What  an  idea!  "  ejaculated  the  countess,  looking  hard 
at  her  husband.  Then,  feeling  convinced  that  he  suspected 
nothing,  so  well  did  he  dissimulate,  she  observed,  laughing, 
The  world  will  fancy  you  have  become  quite  uxorious  all 
on  a  sudden.  Besides,  Lady  Lechmere  did  not  include  you 
in  the  invitation  she  sent  me  this  morning,  for  that  note 
which  I  received  when  you  were  with  me  was  from  her." 

Well,  I  do  not  press  it,"  said  the  earl,  apparently  quite 
satisfied.  Only  I  thought  that  as  we  have  been  a  little 
more  friendly  to-day  than  for  some  time  past,  it  would  be 
as  well  if  such  a  feeling  were  to  continue." 

And  who  first  destroyed  that  feeling?  "  asked  Editha, 
with  a  slight  accent  of  sarcasm  in  her  voice. 

I  must  confess  that  I  have  not  proved  a  model  of  a 
husband,"  said  the  earl;  but  then  there  are  allowances 
to  be  made.  Remember  the  artificial  state  of  society  in 
which  we  live,  move,  and  breathe,  think  of  the  temptations 
by  which  a  man  of  my  rank  and  position  is  inevitably 
surrounded  —  " 


AN  ARISTOCRATIC  PAIR 


15 


"  Oh,  I  have  not  time  to  discuss  the  point  with  you  now," 
exclaimed  Editha,  starting  from  her  seat  and  laughing  in 
a  lively  manner.  ''It  is  seven  o'clock,  and  I  must  hurry 
away.  But  I  shall  cheerfully  promote  the  friendly  feeling 
which  you  say  has  arisen  between  us  once  more.  So  now 
adieu;  I  am  off  to  North  Audley  Street,"  where,  we  should 
observe,  Lady  Lech  mere  resided. 

"  And  I  shall  go  and  pass  the  evening  with  Leveson,"  said 
the  earl,  or  else  with  Huntingdon,  if  the  marquis  should 
not  be  at  home." 

The  husband  and  wife  both  quitted  the  dining-room 
together.  The  former  took  down  his  hat  from  a  peg  in  the 
hall,  and  sallied  forth  at  once;  and  Editha,  having  seen 
him  thus  take  his  departure,  ascended  to  her  own  cham- 
ber. 

But  the  Earl  of  Curzon,  instead  of  repairing  to  the  Marquis 
of  Leveson's,  hastened  to  the  nearest  hackney-coach  stand, 
entered  a  vehicle,  and  returned  in  it  to  the  immediate 
vicinage  of  his  own  mansion.  He  ordered  it  to  stop  nearly 
opposite,  as  if  waiting  to  receive  a  fare  from  the  house  at 
which  it  thus  drew  up ;  and  remaining  inside,  he  kept  watch 
upon  the  door  of  his  own  dwelling.  His  wife's  carriage  was 
already  there,  and  in  a  few  minutes  he  saw  the  front  door 
open.  Then  a  female  figure,  enveloped  in  a  handsome 
cloak,  and  with  a  thick  veil  over  her  face,  descended  the 
stone  steps  and  entered  the  carriage,  which  immediately 
drove  away. 

Thrusting  his  head  from  the  window  of  the  hackney-coach, 
the  earl  directed  the  driver  to  follow  the  carriage  at  an  easy 
distance;  but  when,  in  the  course  of  a  few  minutes,  he 
found  that  the  equipage  which  he  was  pursuing  turned  into 
North  Audley  Street,  he  said  to  himself,  Well,  after  all, 
she  is  really  going  to  Lady  Lechmere's.  Perhaps  I  have 
done  her  an  injustice;  "  and  yet  the  dark  suspicion  still 
remained  in  the  profundity  of  his  soul. 

The  carriage  stopped  at  Lady  Lechmere's;  the  hackney- 
coach  halted  a  few  doors  off,  and  the  earl  again  watched 
eagerly  from  the  window.  Yes,  she  enters  the  house,  and 
the  carriage  drives  away,"  he  muttered  to  himself.  "  I  will 
now  go  and  join  the  party  at  Lady  Lechmere's,  invent 
some  excuse  for  following  Editha  after  what  she  said  upon 
the  proposal  I  made  to  accompany  her,  and  endeavour  to 


16 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


ascertain  whether  she  expected  to  meet  some  particular 
individual  there." 

The  earl  was  about  to  order  the  hackney-coach  to  drive 
up  to  Lady  Lechmere's  door,  when  the  thought  struck  him 
that  the  course  he  was  about  to  adopt  could  not  possibly 
fail  to  be  seen  through  by  Editha.  If  she  were  really  guilty, 
it  would  only  serve  to  put  her  the  more  completely  on  her 
guard;  and  if  she  were  innocent,  he  would  be  rendering 
himself  supremely  ridiculous  in  her  eyes.  No,  he  must 
continue  to  veil  his  suspicions,  and  watch  her  movements 
until  he  should  either  obtain  substantial  proof  of  her  infi- 
dehty  or  else  acquire  the  certainty  that  his  fears  were  totally 
unfounded.  Having  thus  resolved,  he  ordered  the  hackney- 
coach  to  take  him  back  to  Grosvenor  Street;  and  alighting 
at  a  short  distance  from  his  dweUing,  he  dismissed  the 
vehicle. 

Consulting  his  watch  by  the  aid  of  a  door-lamp,  he  saw  that 
it  wanted  twenty  minutes  to  eight;  and  not  knowing  what 
to  do  with  himself  for  the  rest  of  the  evening,  he  resolved  to 
proceed  to  Lord  Leveson's  in  Albemarle  Street.  But  a 
sudden  idea  struck  him.  The  fact  was  that  his  wife's  princi- 
pal lady's-maid,  Gertrude  by  name,  was  a  very  beautiful 
young  woman,  with  a  voluptuous  figure,  a  wanton  counte- 
nance, fine  teeth,  and  a  pair  of  the  most  wicked  eyes  that 
ever  sent  forth  flashing  looks  from  pupils  of  the  darkest 
jet.  The  earl  had  more  than  once  flung  furtive  glances  of 
deep  meaning  upon  the  captivating  Gertrude;  but  she  inva- 
riably appeared  to  take  no  notice  of  his  amorous  oglings. 
This  bashfulness  on  her  part,  he  felt  assured,  was  only  an 
affectation  of  strict  propriety;  and,  being  a  very  handsome 
man,  as  well  as  imbued  with  all  the  characteristic  conceit, 
arrogance,  and  vanity  of  the  order  to  which  he  belonged, 
he  flattered  himself  that  he  had  only  to  become  more  ex- 
pHcit  in  his  overtures  to  achieve  an  easy  triumph  in  that 
quarter.  The  opportunity  and  the  humour  now  alike  served 
admirably;  his  wife  was  from  home,  he  was  restless  and 
uneasy,  he  wanted  something  to  amuse  and  divert  his  mind, 
and  he  resolved  to  enter  upon  the  conquest  of  the  beautiful 
Gertrude  forthwith. 

Thus,  only  a  few  minutes  after  watching  the  movements 
of  his  wife,  and  still  smarting  with  the  suspicion  of  her 
infidelity,  —  an  infidelity  which,  if  brought  home  to  her, 


AN  ARISTOCRATIC  PAIR  17 


he  was  prepared  to  brand  with  all  the  ignominy  of 
exposure,  prosecution,  and  divorce,  —  this  unprincipled 
aristocrat  retraced  his  way  homeward  with  the  dehberate 
intention  of  seducing  that  selfsame  wife's  confidential 
attendant.  But  is  this  flagrant  case  an  isolated  one,  or  is  it 
a  mere  type  of  man's  too  frequent  conduct?  Alas!  yes; 
the  husband  may  sin  with  comparative  impunity,  but  if  the 
wife,  no  matter  how  neglected  and  ill-used  at  home,  yields 
to  temptation,  there  is  nought  but  the  highest  chastisement 
and  most  signal  penalty  for  her.  Truly,  woman  has  her 
wrongs,  which  should  engage  the  thoughts  and  enlist  the 
sympathies  of  the  philanthropist  and  moralist  in  this  age 
when  all  the  world  is  crying  out  for  political  and  social  reform. 

The  Earl  of  Curzon  retraced  his  way  homeward;  but 
just  as  he  arrived  in  front  of  his  house,  he  beheld  a  female, 
dressed  in  the  well-known  apparel  of  Gertrude  herself, 
ascending  the  area  steps.  Yes,  it  was  her  cloak,  which  he  had 
often  observed  as  becoming  her  so  well,  her  bonnet,  which  he 
had  frequently  noticed  as  being  worn  so  coquettishly.  But 
a  thick  black  veil  was  drawn  over  her  countenance,  —  a 
modest  precaution  which  all  respectable  and  well-behaved 
young  women  of  her  class  were  wont  to  adopt  in  those  times, 
when  the  streets  were  comparatively  unprotected  with  the 
wretched  guardianship  of  old  watchmen,  and  when  roistering 
blades  and  impudent  gallants  were  accustomed  to  insult 
every  woman  whose  unveiled  features  happened  to  please 
their  fantasy. 

Gertrude,  my  dear  girl,"  said  Curzon,  assuming  his  bland- 
est tones,    where  are  you  going  ?  " 

But,  instead  of  stopping,  as  the  earl  had  hoped  and 
expected,  she  brushed  past  him  with  evident  indignation  and 
hurried  along  the  street.  He  was,  however,  almost  imme- 
diately at  her  side  again;  and,  in  a  voice  of  gentle  remon- 
strance, he  said,  "  Why  are  you  so  cruel?  You  know  that 
I  love  you,  Gertrude,  —  yes,  ten  thousand  times  better  than 
I  love  your  mistress;  my  looks  must  have  told  you  so.  Come, 
will  you  not  speak  to  me,  —  not  a  single  word?  Throw  up 
that  veil,  and  let  me  see  whether  you  are  really  and  posi- 
tively angry.  I  would  wager  anything  that  you  are  smiling 
with  a  delightful  wickedness  behind  that  thick  screen.  Ger- 
trude, do  you  hear  me?  Surely  you  do  not  require  so  much 
coaxing?  " 


18 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


But;  instead  of  making  any  response  to  this  softly  insidious 
language,  she  endeavoured  to  outstrip  him;  then,  finding 
that  he  persevered  in  accompanying  her,  and  evidently 
alarmed  or  else  profoundly  indignant  at  his  importunities, 
she  shrank  against  the  wall  as  if  about  to  faint. 

"  Good  heavens,  Gertrude!  "  exclaimed  the  nobleman, 
looking  uneasily  up  and  down  the  street,  with  the  fear  that 
they  might  be  observed  and  that  it  would  be  supposed 
he  was  ill-using  the  female;  "  you  cannot  mean  that  you  are 
really  angry  with  me?  Give  me  your  hand,  take  my  arm,  and 
we  will  converse  quietly  and  tranquilly  as  we  walk  along." 

Thus  speaking,  he  endeavoured  to  take  her  hand;  but  she 
withdrew  it  violently,  a  faint  scream  bursting  from  her  hps 
at  the  same  moment.  The  earl  was  astounded;  he  had  not 
anticipated  such  opposition  to  his  overtures.  Suddenly  the 
front  door  of  the  house  opposite  opened,  and  several  gentle- 
men appeared  on  the  threshold. 

"  For  God's  sake,  come  away  with  me,  Gertrude!  "  said 
the  earl,  impatiently. 

But  she  made  a  movement  as  if  about  to  fly  toward  the 
gentlemen  at  the  door  opposite;  and  the  earl,  dreading  the 
scandal  of  an  exposure,  beat  a  rapid  retreat  toward  his  own 
mansion,  while  the  object  of  his  importunity  hurried  away 
in  the  contrary  direction. 

Baffled,  enraged,  disappointed,  and  humihated,  the  Earl 
of  Curzon  reentered  his  dweUing;  and  after  drinking  a 
tumbler  of  claret  to  cool  the  throat  which  was  parched  with 
the  fever  of  overwrought  excitement,  he  flung  himself  upon 
a  sofa  and  gave  way  to  his  unpleasurable  reflections.  Every- 
thing seemed  to  be  going  wrong  with  him;  all  circumstances 
were  combining  for  his  annoyance.  His  pecuniary  affairs 
were  in  no  agreeable  position;  he  had  failed  to  possess  him- 
self of  Venetia,  whose  charms  had  well-nigh  maddened  him; 
the  suspicion  which  he  entertained  relative  to  his  wife  was 
still  strong  enough  to  goad  and  torture  him  cruelly;  and 
now  the  rebuff  he  had  experienced  from  Gertrude  crowned 
his  humiliation  and  annoyance.  He  was  just  in  that  humour 
when  a  man  would  give  anything  to  be  able  to  vent  his 
spite  upon  the  head  of  some  victim,  either  for  a  real  or  an 
imaginary  offence. 

Suddenly  a  thought  struck  him.  His  wife  was  from  home, 
and  Gertrude  was  also  absent.  The  former  would  not,  in  all 


AN  ARISTOCRATIC  PAIR 


19 


probability,  return  until  eleven  o'clock  or  perhaps  midnight; 
and  the  latter  had  no  doubt  received  permission  to  pass  the 
evening  with  her  friends.  What  if  the  earl  were  to  search 
in  Editha's  boudoir  to  see  if  he  could  discover  the  note 
which  she  had  received  in  the  morning,  or  any  other  letters 
that  might  afford  a  clue  to  her  conduct? 

Inspu-ed  with  this  idea,  Curzon  hastened  up-stairs,  entered 
the  boudoir,  and,  closing  the  door,  began  to  search  all  the 
drawers.  He  however  discovered  nothing  of  any  conse- 
quence. Editha's  writing-desk  stood  upon  a  table,  but  it 
was  locked.  He  took  out  his  own  bunch  of  keys  and  tried 
every  one  of  them  at  all  corresponding  with  the  size  of  the 
lock.  The  last  key  was  found  to  fit,  and  the  desk  was  opened. 

One  of  the  compartments  was  filled  with  letters,  which  the 
earl  proceeded  to  examine  with  careful  attention.  But  they 
were  chiefly  invitations  to  parties,  communications  from  the 
female  friends  of  the  countess  or  from  her  sisters,  or  dunning 
apphcations  from  tradesmen.  One  note,  however,  some- 
what puzzled  the  earl.  It  was  from  Lady  Lechmere,  dated 
about  three  months  back,  and  running  as  follows: 

"  I  have  received  your  hasty  note,  my  dear  Editha,  and 
send  you  back  a  reply  by  Gertrude.  Yes,  I  will  be  at  home  all 
the  evening,  and  will  adopt  the  usual  precautions.  You  have 
nothing  to  fear  on  that  account.  The  servants  shall  receive 
orders  to  admit  no  one  but  the  Countess  of  Curzon.  But  are 
you  certain  that  you  can  trust  the  girl? 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

Katherine  Lechmere.'' 

This  letter,  laconic  though  it  were,  was  sufficient  to 
strengthen  the  earl's  misgivings.  There  was  evidently  some 
secret  understanding  between  his  wife  and  Lady  Lechmere. 
What  usual  precautions  were  to  be  adopted?  Why  was  there 
nothing  to  fear?  And  if  the  girl  alluded  to  was  Gertrude, 
wherefore  should  it  be  necessary  to  exercise  caution  in  trust- 
ing her?  Did  Editha  receive  a  lover's  visits  at  Lady  Lech- 
mere's?  If  so,  what  meant  the  orders  to  the  servants  to 
admit  no  one  but  Editha  herself  ?  Lady  Lechmere  was  a 
widow,  and  had  neither  brother,  uncle,  son,  nor  male  cousin, 
residing  with  her  beneath  the  same  roof.  Editha's  lover,  if 
she  had  one,  was  not  therefore  an  inhabitant  of  the  house; 


20 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


and  how  could  she  go  thither  to  meet  him,  since  none  but 
herself  was  to  be  admitted? 

There  was  a  deep  mystery  in  all  this;  and  the  more  pro- 
found the  mystery,  the  stronger  becomes  the  suspicion. 
So  it  was  in  the  present  case;  and  while  completely  perplexed 
by  the  ambiguous  contents  of  the  note,  the  Earl  of  Curzon 
nevertheless  regarded  it  as  an  item  of  evidence  against  the 
countess.  At  all  events,  it  was  certain  that  whatsoever  the 
secret  might  be,  Gertrude  was  in  the  confidence  of  her 
mistress;  but  had  he  not  mortally  offended  the  lady's-maid 
by  his  conduct  that  evening,  and  could  he  hope  to  propitiate 
her  in  such  a  way  as  to  lead  her  to  divulge  anything  she 
knew? 

Reserving  this  matter  for  after-consideration,  the  earl 
continued  his  search  amongst  his  wife's  papers.  To  his 
further  surprise  he  presently  discovered  a  bill  of  exchange 
accepted  by  himself.  It  was  an  old  bill,  which  had  been  duly 
honoured  by  him  on  arriving  at  maturity ;  but  it  ought  to  be 
upon  a  file  in  his  Ubrary,  instead  of  in  his  wife's  desk.  It 
might,  however,  have  come  there  by  accident;  and,  after  all, 
the  incident  was  trivial  in  itself  and  could  have  no  connection 
with  the  object  of  the  search  which  he  was  instituting. 

At  the  bottom  of  the  desk  he  discovered  a  slip  of  paper, 
on  which  the  name  of  "  Curzon  "  was  written  several  times. 
He  examined  the  writing  attentively,  and  soon  saw  that  it 
was  not  in  his  own  hand,  as  he  had  at  the  first  glance 
imagined  it  to  be.  But  the  writing  was  evidently  in  imitation 
of  his  own,  and  a  more  minute  inspection  convinced  him 
that  it  was  Editha's.  Had  she,  then,  been  practising  his 
signature?  It  appeared  so;  but  for  what  earthly  purpose? 
The  bill  of  exchange  caught  his  eye;  and  it  instantaneously 
struck  him  that  she  had  surreptitiously  possessed  herself  of  it 
in  order  to  copy  his  signature.  Yes,  this  was  now  apparent 
enough;  but  again  recurred  the  question,  for  what  purpose 
had  she  done  this? 

There  were  no  more  papers  to  examine,  and  the  earl 
returned  all  the  letters  and  documents  to  the  compartment 
of  the  desk  whence  he  had  taken  them.  The  other  compart- 
ment only  contained  writing-paper  and  sealing-wax.  He 
locked  the  desk  again,  and,  quitting  the  boudoir  unobservedly 
as  he  had  entered  it,  retraced  his  way  to  the  dining-room. 


V 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  BILLS  OF  EXCHANGE 

At  about  a  quarter-past  eight  o'clock  Malpas  and  Mr. 
Emmerson  entered  Soho  Square,  and  proceeded  direct  to  the 
estabhshment  of  Mrs.  Gale,  who,  previously  informed  by  the 
colonel  of  the  intended  visit,  was  prepared  to  receive  them. 
In  fact,  the  colonel  had  been  with  her  in  the  morning;  and 
having  found  means  to  pay  her  the  five  hundred  guineas 
owing  to  her,  together  with  a  handsome  douceur  by  want  of 
interest,  he  once  more  stood  in  her  good  books.  For  Mrs. 
Gale  never  cared  what  other  people  might  think  or  say  of  a 
person,  so  long  as  she  had  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  his 
conduct. 

The  colonel  had  told  her  in  the  morning  exactly  what  he 
wished  to  be  done  in  the  evening,  a^d  Mrs.  Gale  had  made 
arrangements  accordingly.  She  now  therefore  conducted 
Malpas  and  Emmerson  up  into  a  suite  of  rooms  which  we 
must  describe. 

First,  there  was  a  handsome  parlour,  from  which  a  little 
cabinet  opened  at  the  side  with  a  glass  door.  This  glass  door 
had  green  blinds  within,  so  that  no  one  could  see  into  it 
from  the  parlour;  whereas  a  person  stationed  in  that  cabinet 
could  easily  observe,  as  he  might  also  overhear,  everything 
that  took  place  in  the  parlour.  Beyond  the  parlour  itself 
there  was  a  bedchamber,  with  a  dressing-room  adjoining. 

Such  was  the  suite  to  which  Mrs.  Gale  conducted  the 
colonel  and  the  bill-broker;  and  the  moment  she  had  retired, 
Emmerson  ensconced  himself  in  the  cabinet,  taking  the  key 
with  him  and  locking  the  door  inside. 

A  few  minutes  afterward  Mrs.  Gale  reappeared,  introduc- 
ing the  Countess  of  Curzon,  whom  she  ceremoniously  assisted 
to  lay  aside  her  cloak  and  bonnet.    The  moment  that  the 

21 


22  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


woman  had  retired,  Editha  threw  herself  into  the  arms  of 
the  colonel  and  embraced  him  with  the  fervour  of  infatuated 
passion. 

I  had  some  little  difficulty  in  keeping  this  appointment 
which  you  gave  me,  my  dear  Percy,"  said  the  countess, 
addressing  the  colonel  by  his  Christian  name.  Would 
you  believe  that  the  earl  was  seized  with  quite  an  uxorious 
fit  to-day,  and  actually  wanted  to  accompany  me  to  Lady 
Lechmere's?   But  no  matter  —  " 

You  look  somewhat  flurried,  dearest  Editha,"  observed 
Malpas,  contemplating  her  with  attention.  Has  anything 
occurred?  " 

"  Nothing  of  any  consequence.  I  will  tell  you  presently," 
interrupted  the  lady,  as  she  sat  down  by  his  side  upon  a  sofa. 
"  But  you  must  first  explain  why  you  wished  to  see  me  so 
very  particularly  this  evening,  as  your  note  stated.  You 
charged  me  to  be  sure  and  not  disappoint  you,  Percy.  And 
by  the  bye,  when  I  think  of  it,  the  earl  was  with  me  when 
your  note  came." 

But  he  suspects  nothing?  "  said  Malpas,  anxiously. 

Nothing,  absolutely  nothing,"  replied  the  countess, 
emphatically.  Indeed,  how  can  he?  All  our  precautions 
are  so  excellently  taken.  But  pray  explain  the  urgent 
matter." 

You  are  well  aware,  dearest  Editha,"  said  Malpas, that 
I  am  always  longing  to  be  with  you,  always  unhappy  unless 
in  your  society,  and  never  happier  than  when  clasping  you 
in  my  arms.  Therefore,  it  is  not  surprising  that  I  should 
have  been  so  urgent  to  meet  you  this  evening,  especially  as 
some  days  have  elapsed  since  last  we  met.  But  there  was 
another  inducement  which  prompted  me  to  be  so  pressing 
with  regard  to  an  interview  for  this  evening;  in  fact,  I 
wished  to  have  some  serious  conversation  with  you." 

"  What  about?  "  inquired  Editha,  quickly;  and  her  large 
black  eyes  were  fixed  with  a  sort  of  uneasiness  upon  the 
countenance  of  her  paramour. 

^'  Those  bills,  my  dearest  love,"  answered  Malpas. 
Ah!  "  ejaculated  the  countess,  becoming  visibly  troubled. 

You  surely  do  not  require  any  more  assistance  in  that 
shape?  " 

"  Listen  to  me  with  patience  for  a  few  moments,  Editha," 
said  the  colonel.    ^'  You  are  aware  that  I  obtained  the 


THE  BILLS  OF  EXCHANGE  23 


money  for  those  bills  from  a  gentleman  named  Emmer- 
son— " 

"  Yes,  and  my  husband  has  likewise  received  money  from 
that  Mr.  Emmerson,"  interrupted  Editha.  "  He  told  me 
so  this  morning.  But  it  was  evident  from  his  manner  that 
he  did  not  know  you  had  been  dealing  with  the  same  money- 
broker." 

He  does  not  know  it,  Editha,  —  and  very  fortunate 
is  it  for  me,"  added  Malpas,  with  a  profound  seriousness  of 
manner,  "  that  he  is  thus  ignorant." 

Of  course  it  is,  Percy,"  exclaimed  the  countess,  very 
fortunate  for  us  both.  If  he  knew  that  I  had  given  the  bills 
to  you,  he  would,  as  a  matter  of  course,  instantaneously 
suspect  that  there  is  some  very  close  intimacy  between  us. 
When  you  first  communicated  to  me  your  extreme  pecuniary 
embarrassments  and  stated  that  the  earl  had  refused  you 
the  service  of  his  acceptance  to  a  bill  of  exchange,  I  told 
you  that  I  could  procure  his  name  to  a  promissory  note  for 
my  own  use." 

"  And  I  promised  you,"  observed  the  colonel,  "  that  I 
would  place  that  note  in  the  hands  of  a  gentleman  who 
would  advance  the  money  upon  it  and  not  breathe  a  syllable 
to  a  soul  relative  to  the  transaction.    I  kept  my  word  —  " 

"  No  doubt,"  interrupted  the  countess;  "  and  you  also 
undertook  to  provide  the  funds  to  redeem  the  security  even 
before  it  should  become  due,  so  that  the  bill  might  not  be 
presented  to  the  earl  at  all ;  otherwise,  if  presented,  he  would 
of  course  see  your  name  upon  it." 

"  True,  my  dear  Editha,"  said  Malpas.  And  you  gave 
me  several  bills  at  short  intervals,  with  the  earl's  acceptance 
to  them." 

But  I  cannot  see  the  utility  of  this  recapitulation  of 
circumstances  so  well  known  to  both  of  us,"  observed  the 
countess,  with  the  glitter  of  uneasiness  in  her  luminous  eyes. 
"  The  whole  matter  is  summed  up  in  a  few  words.  You  were 
exceedingly  pressed  for  money,  and  required  a  collateral 
security.  All  these  things  you  explained  to  me,  as  I  knew 
little  or  nothing  about  bills  and  promissory  notes  previously. 
I  told  you  that  I  would  undertake  to  wheedle  the  earl  out 
of  his  acceptance,  alleging  that  I  required  it  to  satisfy  some 
pressing  liabilities  due  to  my  jewellers  and  dressmakers. 
Knowing  that  the  earl  would  not  be  in  a  condition  to  meet 


24 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


the  bill,  I  was  obliged  to  assure  him  that  one  of  my  sisters 
had  promised  me  a  large  sum  of  money  in  a  month  or  two, 
and  that  I  would  provide  for  the  bill  by  the  time  it  should 
come  due.  This  was  the  pretext ;  but  in  reality  I  relied  upon 
your  obtaining  the  requisite  funds,  and  I  sincerely  hope  you 
will  be  enabled  to  do  so.  Tell  me,  Percy,  is  there  any  doubt 
upon  that  point?  " 

My  dear  Edit  ha,  I  shall  obtain  the  funds  somehow  or 
another,"  answered  Malpas;  "  but  that  is  not  the  immediate 
question.  I  am  afraid  that,  prompted  by  your  affection  for 
me,  and  in  order  to  save  me  from  arrest  and  degradation  at 
the  time  —  " 

"  What  do  you  mean?  "  inquired  the  countess,  with  all 
the  petulance  of  intense  uneasiness. 

I  mean,  dearest,"  answered  the  colonel,  that  —  but  do 
not  be  offended  —  that  your  husband  did  not  sign  those 
bills." 

And  what  makes  you  think  so?  "  demanded  Editha, 
actually  gasping  with  the  vain  and  ineffectual  efforts  which 
she  made  to  conceal  her  terror. 

Because  Emmerson  suspects  something  of  the  kind,'' 
returned  Malpas.  ^'  He  has  compared  the  earl's  signature 
with  that  upon  the  bills  which  I  placed  in  his  hands." 

0  God!  I  am  lost!  "  cried  Editha,  no  longer  able  to 
keep  down  the  effervescence  of  her  harrowing  emotions; 
and,  covering  her  face  with  her  hands,  she  burst  into  tears. 

Compose  yourself,  for  Heaven's  sake!  "  said  the  colonel. 
Nothing  is  yet  known.  Mr.  Emmerson  is  a  gentleman 
and  possesses  a  kind  heart;  everything  can  be  repaired 
and  remedied.  Only  do,  I  conjure  you,  my  Editha,  do 
tell  me  all  the  truth." 

But  is  it  yet  time  to  prevent  this  storm  from  bursting 
over  my  head?  "  she  exclaimed,  removing  her  hands  from 
her  countenance  and  gazing  up  piteously  in  the  face  of  her 
paramour. 

There  is  time,  I  can  assure  you,  Editha,  —  plenty  of 
time,"  answered  Malpas.  Do  not  give  way  to  grief,  which 
is  now  unavailing,  but  let  us  look  the  whole  affair  boldly 
in  the  face.  Mr.  Emmerson  only  requires  to  have  the  pay- 
ment assured,  and  he  will  never  breathe  a  word  relative 
to  the  transaction.  But  pray  tell  me  everything  without 
reserve." 


THE  BILLS  OF  EXCHANGE  25 


"  I  will,"  said  the  countess,  endeavouring  to  compose 
her  looks  and  her  feelings.  "  You  communicated  your 
embarrassments  to  me,  and  I  was  distracted  at  the  thought 
of  seeing  you  borne  off  to  a  debtors'  prison.  I  therefore 
resolved  to  adopt  a  desperate  course  in  order  to  save  you. 
And  yet  it  neither  seemed  to  me  so  desperate  nor  dangerous, 
after  all;  because,  from  what  you  told  me,  I  understood 
clearly  enough  that  if  you  provided  the  funds  in  time  to 
take  up  the  bills,  the  earl  need  never  know  that  his  name 
had  been  made  use  of  at  all.  And  that  you  would  so  pro- 
vide the  funds  in  due  season  I  felt  confident.  Well,  I  ob- 
tained from  the  earl's  file  of  papers  an  old  bill  which  he 
had  honoured  some  time  since;  and  I  imitated  his  signature, 
after  some  practice,  to  the  best  of  my  ability.  You  had 
previously  told  me  that  if  I  obtained  his  acceptance  to  the 
blank  stamps,  you  would  fill  them  up.  Now,  you  must 
forgive  me,  my  dear  Percy,"  said  the  countess,  in  a  tone  of 
impassioned  entreaty,  ''for  I  did  all  this  entirely  through 
devotion  to  you." 

^'  Forgive  you,  dearest  Editha!  "  exclaimed  Malpas,  much 
of  whose  enthusiasm  of  tone  and  manner  was  affected; 
"  how  can  I  do  otherwise  than  forgive  you?  You  have 
risked  much  —  I  do  not  think  you  are  precisely  aware  how 
much  —  for  my  sake;  and  it  is  fortunate  that  we  are  in  such 
hands  as  Emmerson's.  He  is  a  perfect  gentleman,  pos- 
sessed of  great  influence  in  the  City,  and  will  soon  be  an 
alderman,"  added  the  colonel,  sententiously;  for  he  was 
making  these  remarks  in  order  to  propitiate  the  bill-broker 
whose  close  vicinage  was  so  little  suspected  by  the  Countess 
of  Curzon. 

It  is  indeed  fortunate  that  the  bills  are  in  such  hands," 
said  the  countess,  now  bitterly  repenting  the  imprudence 
into  which  a  passionate  infatuation  had  betrayed  her  at  the 
time.  "  But  does  he  already  know  that  you  have  received 
them  from  me?  " 

"  I  was  compelled  to  confess  the  truth,  Editha,"  replied 
Malpas;  "  or  else  he  would  have  given  me  into  custody  on 
a  charge  of  forgery." 

"  Ah!  then  you  hesitated  not  to  sacrifice  my  honour  in 
order  to  save  your  own,"  ejaculated  the  countess,  suddenly 
starting  from  the  sofa,  while  the  rich  blood  mantled  in 
scarlet  glow  through  the  transparent  duskiness  of  her  skin. 


26 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  Pardon  me,  Edit  ha/'  said  Malpas,  confused  and  humili- 
ated;    but  what  could  I  do?  " 

Risked  Newgate,  death,  anything,  sooner  than  betray 
the  honour  of  a  confiding  woman,"  exclaimed  the  Countess 
of  Curzon,  fixing  upon  her  paramour  a  look  of  withering 
scorn  and  superb  contempt.  Did  I  risk  nothing  for  you 
when  I  forged  my  husband's  name  to  save  you  from  a 
debtors'  gaol?  Have  I  risked  nothing  in  giving  you  that 
love  which  could  alone  prompt  me  to  such  a  perilous  act? 
It  was  in  a  moment  of  utter  contempt  and  indifference  for 
all  consequences  that  I  became  a  forger;  and  that  supreme 
recklessness  was  produced  by  my  devotion  to  you.  Now, 
sir,  you  have  rewarded  me  by  betraying  my  honour  into  the 
hands  of  an  usurer." 

For  God's  sake,  use  no  harsh  words  with  respect  to 
Emmerson,"  exclaimed  the  colonel.  "  Your  honour  is  safe 
in  his  keeping,  he  will  not  betray  you." 

Wretch!  "  ejaculated  the  countess,  bitterly.  "  Much 
as  I  loved  you  a  minute  back,  I  now  hate  and  detest  you. 
Viper  —  would  to  heaven  that  I  had  the  power  of  crushing 
you  under  my  foot!  " 

Edit  ha,  you  are  raving,"  cried  Malpas,  his  countenance 
ghastly  pale  and  his  lips  livid  and  quivering.  Do  you 
intend  to  quarrel  with  me  for  ever?  " 

My  pardon  you  can  never  obtain,  sir,"  answered  the 
countess,  haughtily.  If  my  heart  were  henceforth  to 
feel  one  moment's  tenderness  toward  you,  I  would  stab 
it  to  the  very  core.  But  enough  of  this  portion  of  the 
painful  drama.  One  word  more,  and  I  take  my  departure. 
Am  I  to  understand  that  you  will  arrange  with  Mr. 
Emmerson  for  these  bills  and  that  you  will  provide  for  them 
in  due  course?  Or  will  you  crown  your  infamy  by  suffering 
the  transaction  to  reach  my  husband's  ears?  " 

I  will  provide  for  them  —  on  my  honour  I  will  provide 
for  them,"  exclaimed  the  colonel.    "  But  hear  me  —  " 

"  Enough,  sir,"  ejaculated  the  countess,  with  imperious 
tone  and  haughty  manner. 

She  took  up  her  bonnet  and  cloak;  he  advanced,  trem- 
blingly and  pale,  to  assist  her  in  putting  on  the  latter,  but 
she  repulsed  him  with  a  gesture  of  scorn. 

He  essayed  to  murmur  a  few  syllables  of  abject  entreaty, 
but  she  darted  upon  him  a  look  that  seemed  fraught  with 


THE  BILLS  OF  EXCHANGE  27 


the  scathing  powers  of  lightning.  A  moment  afterward,  and 
she  was  gone. 

Throughout  this  scene  the  bill-broker  had  remained  a 
hidden  but  profoundly  interested  observer  in  the  cabinet 
with  the  glass  door.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  ever  seen 
the  Countess  of  Curzon;  and  he  was  astonished  as  well  as 
enraptured  at  the  peculiar  style  of  her  loveliness.  Her 
beauty  appeared  to  him  of  the  Mauritanian  species  which 
characterized  the  Moorish  women  who  once  made  Spain 
their  home,  and  the  memory  of  whose  charms  has  been 
preserved  in  many  a  tradition,  legend,  and  romance.  On 
throwing  off  the  cloak  which  enveloped  her  entire  person, 
Editha  had  appeared  in  a  dark  velvet  dress,  which  seemed 
most  befitting  her  complexion;  and  the  admirable  fashion 
of  the  costume  set  off  the  sculptural  symmetry  of  her  shape 
to  its  utmost  advantage. 

Then  the  power  of  her  eyes,  so  luminous  in  their  in- 
tense darkness,  and  so  splendid  with  their  long  jetty 
lashes,  the  rich  hue  of  the  flush  that  so  often  mantled  on 
her  cheeks  during  the  conversation  with  her  now  discarded 
paramour,  the  vivid  red  of  those  lips  that  were  so  deli- 
cious in  their  moist  fulness  and  that  seemed  to  breathe 
sweets  even  when  the  words  that  passed  through  them  were 
sharp  with  scorn,  the  quick  heavings  of  that  bosom  which 
the  low-bodied  dress  left  more  than  half-exposed,  the  grace, 
the  elegance,  and  the  dignity  of  her  attitudes,  all  adapting 
themselves  to  the  style  of  the  discourse  she  was  hearing  or 
giving  utterance  to  at  the  time,  —  in  a  word,  every  charm 
and  every  attraction  that  invested  or  surrounded  her  pro- 
duced a  powerful  effect  upon  Emmerson. 

She  departed  in  anger,  as  we  have  already  described; 
and  then  the  bill-broker,  unlocking  the  door,  came  forth 
from  the  place  of  his  concealment. 

"  Now,  Emmerson,  are  you  satisfied? "  said  Malpas, 
still  trembling  beneath  the  influence  of  that  withering, 
bhghting,  scathing  look  which  Editha  had  last  thrown  upon 
him. 

"  She  is  the  only  woman  I  ever  saw  whose  love  is  worth 
dying  for,"  responded  the  bill-broker.  Then,  gazing  upon 
Malpas  with  somewhat  of  that  scorn  and  contempt  which 
he  had  caught,  as  it  were  by  transfusion  from  the  noble 
lady  who  had  just  taken  her  departure,  he  said,  "  How  feel 


28 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


you  now,  colonel,  after  the  closing  scene  in  this  drama,  as 
the  countess  so  appropriately  styled  it?  " 

Whatever  has  happened,  Mr.  Emmerson,"  replied 
Malpas,  moodily,  "  'tis  you  who  have  driven  me  to  it.  But 
now  that  you  have  heard  my  innocence  proclaimed  from  the 
lady's  own  lips,  now  also  that  you  know  every  minute  detail 
of  the  entire  transaction,  what  course  do  you  propose  to 
adopt? " 

"  I  am  not  decided  at  present,"  answered  the  bill-broker. 

You  may,  however,  rest  assured  that  I  shall  not  take  any 
step  which  may  compromise  the  Countess  of  Curzon.  But 
you  will  come  to  my  office  to-morrow  morning  and  give  me 
your  own  bill  —  mind,  your  own  bill  —  for  the  amount 
which  you  owe  me." 

"  I  will  be  with  you  punctually  at  ten  o'clock,"  said 
Malpas,  deriving  no  small  consolation  from  the  manner  in 
which  Emmerson  seemed  disposed  to  treat  the  affair. 

They  then  took  their  departure  from  Mrs.  Gale's  estab- 
lishment. 

Meantime  the  Earl  of  Curzon  had  been  lounging  in  a 
restless  manner  upon  the  sofa  in  the  dining-room  in  Gros- 
venor  Street,  or  else  pacing  uneasily  to  and  fro  like  a  chafing 
lion  in  his  cage;  and  every  now  and  then  he  had  recourse 
to  the  wine-decanter.  But  instead  of  soothing  his  agitated 
thoughts,  the  juice  of  the  grape  added  an  artificial  stimulant 
to  that  natural  excitement  which  was  torturing  him,  and 
though  his  spirit  was  so  restless,  the  time  hung  insupport- 
ably  heavy  upon  his  hands. 

At  length  the  timepiece  upon  the  mantel  struck  eleven; 
and  a  few  minutes  afterward  the  carriage  drove  up  to  the 
front  door  of  the  house.  The  earl  composed  his  features  as 
well  as  he  was  able,  and  went  out  into  the  hall  to  meet  his 
wife,  for  he  felt  anxious  to  have  some  conversation  with  her 
although  he  had  not  made  up  his  mind  what  to  say,  or  how 
to  turn  the  wished-for  discourse  upon  any  topic  which  might 
suit  his  own  purposes.  But  he  was  in  one  of  those  humours 
when  a  man  of  excitable  temperament  must  have  his  say, 
even  if  for  no  other  end  than  to  pick  a  quarrel  and  find  an 
issue  for  his  pent-up  spleen. 

"  I  hope  you  have  passed  a  pleasant  evening,"  he  said, 
accosting  the   lady,  as  she  was  hurrying  through  the 


THE  BILLS  OF  EXCHANGE  29 


hall,  enveloped  in  the  handsome  cloak  and  with  her  thick 
veil  drawn  over  her  countenance,  just  as  he  had  seen  her 
when  entering  the  carriage  at  half-past  seven  o'clock. 
^'  Heyday!  what  does  this  mean?  "  he  exclaimed,  petulantly, 
as  she  swept  abruptly  past  him,  flitted  up -stairs,  and  dis- 
appeared from  his  view  all  in  a  moment. 

With  another  cause  for  ill-humour,  he  was  returning  to 
the  parlour  when  the  sounds  of  light  footsteps  and  the 
rustling  of  garments  met  his  ears;  and  looking  around,  he 
caught  a  glimpse  of  the  cloak  of  the  pretty  lady's-maid, 
as  the  wearer  was  also  hastening  up  the  marble  staircase. 
The  earl  hurried  after  her  and  overtook  her  on  the  landing. 

"  Gertrude,"  he  said,  catching  her  by  the  arm  and  speaking 
in  a  low,  rapid  whisper,  "  for  Heaven's  sake,  do  not  mention 
to  your  mistress  what  occurred  just  now;  "  and  as  he  uttered 
these  words,  he  strove  with  piercing  looks  to  penetrate  the 
thick  veil  which  was  also  worn  by  her  whom  he  thus  ad- 
dressed. 

But  breaking  abruptly  away  from  him,  and  without  a 
syllable  of  reply,  she  bounded  up  the  next  flight  of  stairs. 

Perdition  seize  the  women!  "  muttered  the  earl  to  him- 
self, as  he  slowly  retraced  his  steps  to  the  dining-room. 

What  the  devil  possesses  them  both?  My  wife  sweeps 
past  me  in  the  hall  as  if  I  had  the  plague,  and  Gertrude 
breaks  away  from  me  on  the  landing  as  if  contact  with  me 
were  contagion.  Then  this  mania  of  wearing  their  veils 
up  to  their  very  bedrooms,  as  if  they  dared  not  look  a  man 
in  the  face!  " 

And  the  earl  walked  to  and  fro  in  the  parlour  with  uneven 
steps  and  agitated  feelings. 

He  waited  ten  minutes  in  the  hope  that  his  wife  would 
come  down  previously  to  retiring  for  the  night;  but  as  she 
did  not  make  her  appearance,  he  resolved  to  go  up  to  her 
boudoir  and  either  induce  her  to  join  him  at  the  supper-table, 
or  else  remain  and  converse  with  her  in  her  own  room.  But 
as  he  was  ascending  the  stairs  he  met  Gertrude  face  to  face. 

The  beautiful  girl  had  laid  aside  her  bonnet,  veil,  and 
cloak,  and  she  could  not  help  encountering  the  earl's  looks. 
A  smile  of  ineffable  archness  and  mischievous  meaning  ap- 
peared upon  her  pouting  lips  as  she  thus  met  his  gaze;  but 
she  was  hurrying  past  him  when  he  once  more  caught  her  by 
the  arm  and  held  her  firmly. 


30 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


You  have  not  breathed  a  word  to  your  mistress?  "  he 
said,  in  a  hurried  whisper. 

No,  my  lord,  not  a  word,"  she  rephed,  with  a  singularly 
wicked  and  roguish  look.    "  But  you  deserve  that  I  should 
have  shown  you  no  mercy  after  your  rude  treatment." 
"  I  know  you  will  pardon  me,  pretty  Gertrude,"  he  said. 
But  why  would  you  not  speak  to  me  just  now  on  the 
landing?  " 

"  Why,  my  lord!  "  echoed  the  abigail;  "  because  I  heard 
other  footsteps  upon  the  stairs,  —  at  least  I  thought  so,  — 
and  Ukewise  because  I  was  afraid  her  ladyship  would  be 
angry  with  me  for  staying  out  so  late.  I  was  ordered  to  be 
home  by  half-past  ten,  and  it  was  after  eleven  when  I  got 
back.  The  carriage  drove  up  to  the  door  just  as  I  was 
descending  the  area  steps." 

^'  And  where  had  you  been,  Gertrude?  "  inquired  the  earl, 
thinking  that  the  lady's-maid  was  not  so  cruel,  after  all, 
inasmuch  as  she  now  conversed  with  tolerable  freedom  and 
apparent  good-humour. 

"  I  passed  the  evening  with  my  parents,  my  lord,"  she 
replied,  looking,  however,  as  if  she  felt  annoyed  by  the 
question;  "  and  it  was  with  the  permission  of  her  ladyship," 
she  added,  pointedly. 

^'  Which  is  as  much  as  to  say  that  I  have  no  right  to 
inquire  into  your  movements,"  observed  the  nobleman, 
affecting  to  smile.  "  Come,  tell  me  candidly,  are  you  very, 
very  angry  with  me  for  my  conduct  of  this  evening?  " 

"  Let  me  go,  my  lord,  and  I  will  tell  you,"  said  Gertrude. 

"  Now,  then,  you  are  free,"  observed  the  earl,  as  he  let 
go  his  grasp  on  her  arm. 

The  lady's-maid  flung  another  look  of  unspeakable  arch- 
ness upon  him,  and  flitted  down  the  stairs  with  the  speed 
and  lightness  of  a  spirit. 

"  The  little  minx! "  muttered  Curzon  to  himself.  But 
she  is  not  quite  such  a  prude,  after  all,  and  she  shall  yet  be 
mine." 

The  little  interview  with  the  lady's-maid,  being  of  a  more 
satisfactory  nature  than  his  two  former  attempts  to  engage 
her  in  conversation,  put  the  nobleman  into  a  somewhat  better 
humour,  especially  as  he  had  received  from  her  lips  the 
assurance  that  his  conduct  was  not  reported  to  his  wife. 
For,  although  he  had  not  on  previous  occasions  been  equally 


THE  BILLS  OF  EXCHANGE  31 


solicitous  to  veil  his  irregularities  from  her  knowledge,  he 
did  not  wish  to  appear  ridiculous  in  her  eyes  as  having  met 
with  so  mortifying  a  rebuff  from  her  maid,  nor  was  he  de- 
sirous that  such  a  circumstance  should  reach  her  ears  at  the 
very  time  he  was  seeking  for  proofs  of  her  own  suspected 
infidelity. 

One  weight  was  therefore  lifted  from  the  earl's  mind;  and 
now,  becoming  capable  of  calmer  reasoning  than  for  the  last 
two  or  three  hours,  he  saw  the  impossibility  of  as  yet  making 
any  positive  charge  against  his  wife,  or  of  even  alluding  to 
Lady  Lechmere's  ambiguous  note  without  admitting  that 
he  had  searched  the  writing-desk  in  Editha's  absence. 
Moreover,  he  had  now  hopes  of  winning  Gertrude  to  his 
interests;  and  as  she  was  evidently  in  the  confidence  of  her 
mistress,  it  was  important  to  glean  from  her  lips  those  secrets 
of  which  she  had  a  knowledge. 

Such  were  the  reflections  which  swept,  all  in  a  moment, 
through  the  mind  of  the  earl,  as  he  lingered  upon  the  stairs 
after  Gertrude  had  flitted  away  so  abruptly;  and  no  longer 
yearning  to  precipitate  matters  with  Editha,  he  once  more 
retraced  his  steps  to  the  parlour. 

Ringing  the  bell,  he  ordered  the  servant  who  answered 
the  summons  to  inquire  whether  Editha  was  coming  down 
to  supper;  and  the  response  was  to  the  effect  that  the  count- 
ess had  supped  at  Lady  Lechmere's,  but  would  join  his 
lordship  in  a  few  minutes. 

The  nobleman  therefore  sat  down  to  the  repast,  and  his 
wife  presently  made  her  appearance,  laughing  and  in  the 
best  possible  humour. 

"  My  dear  Charles,"  she  said,  tapping  him  playfully  upon 
the  cheek  as  she  passed  behind  him  to  take  a  chair,  you 
must  have  thought  it  very  strange,  very  rude,  and  very  un- 
kind in  me  to  hasten  away  so  abruptly  when  yoa  spoke  to  me 
in  the  hall  as  I  came  from  the  carriage ;  but  I  was  labouring 
under  a  cruel  misconception  at  the  time.  In  fact,  I  heard  it 
whispered  at  Lady  Lechmere's,  about  nine  o'clock,  that  you 
had  just  been  seen  at  the  Hay  market  Theatre  in  company 
with  a  female  of  notorious  profligacy.  You  may  therefore 
conceive  how  annoyed  I  was.  But  I  have  just  learned  that 
you  have  been  at  home  all  the  evening  and  therefore  the 
accusation  must  have  arisen  in  sheer  wickedness  or  down- 
right error." 


32  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


But  who  could  possibly  have  told  you  such  a  thing?  " 
demanded  the  earl,  with  mingled  astonishment  and  indig- 
nation. 

Now  I  am  not  going  to  get  you  into  a  quarrel  with  any 
one/'  replied  Editha,  in  the  softest  tone  and  the  most 
caressing  manner.  Besides,  it  was  an  elderly  lady  whom 
I  overheard  mentioning  the  circumstance  to  another  an- 
tiquated gossip,  and  it  was  not  intended  for  my  ears.  So 
you  must  ask  me  nothing  more  upon  the  subject.  Suffice 
it  to  say  that  the  imputation  was  a  calumny." 

But  if  I  had  found  Leveson  at  home  and  had  remained 
to  pass  the  evening  with  him,"  said  Lord  Curzon,  ''you 
would  have  believed  the  tale  and  fancied  that  I  was  really  at 
the  Hay  market  with  a  bad  woman?  " 

The  affair  would  certainly  have  looked  suspicious," 
observed  Editha;  but  it  only  proves  that  we  should  never 
be  hasty  in  judging  from  appearances." 

"  True,"  exclaimed  the  earl,  struck  by  the  observation. 
Then,  after  a  few  minutes'  pause,  during  which  he  drank 
a  glass  of  wine,  he  said,  ''It  is  a  pity  that  husbands  and 
wives  ever  keep  any  secrets  from  each  other;  the  habit 
breeds  distrust,  and  distrust  embitters  their  existence." 

''  Are  you  going  to  turn  over  a  new  leaf?  "  inquired  the 
countess,  laughing  gaily.  ''  Your  whole  manner,  conduct,  and 
language  to-day  induce  me  to  think  so." 

''  But  if  I  have  my  secrets  from  you,  Editha,"  said  the 
earl,  attentively  watching  her  countenance  as  he  spoke, 
"  have  you  none  which  you  keep  from  me?  " 

''  None,  that  may  properly  be  called  secrets,"  she  replied, 
apparently  with  the  utmost  sincerity;  and  therefore  the 
reader  will  perceive  that  she  was  as  thorough  a  proficient 
in  the  arts  of  hypocrisy  as  we  have  already  described  her. 

''  I  am  glad  of  it,  my  love,"  exclaimed  the  earl,  completely 
staggered  by  the  candour  of  her  response  and  the  ingenuous- 
ness of  her  looks;  and  again  he  reflected  upon  her  observa- 
tion relative  to  the  imprudence  of  judging  rashly  by  ap- 
pearances. 


il 


V 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  chandler's  SHOP 

Mutton  Hill  is  a  small  section  of  that  large  and  loath- 
some neighbourhood  which  lies  immediately  behind  the 
Sessions  House  on  Clerkenwell  Green.  At  the  period  of 
which  we  are  writing,  as  well  as  at  the  present  day,  it  con- 
sisted principally  of  second-hand  furniture  warehouses,  old- 
clothes'  emporiums,  and  shops  devoted  to  the  sale  of  sweet 
stuff,  chandlery,  shell-fish,  coals  and  potatoes,  and  cheap 
crockery. 

The  chandler's  shop  requires  especial  attention.  It  was 
small,  dingy  in  outward  appearance,  and  gloomy-looking 
internally.  Over  the  door  was  painted,  in  little  white 
letters  on  a  black  ground,  the  name  of  William  Taggarty; 
and  under  this  name,  in  smaller  letters  still,  were  the  words, 

Licensed  Dealer  in  Tea,  Coffee,  Tobacco,  and  Snuff." 
The  door  which  was  half-glazed,  usually  stood  open  as  long 
as  it  was  light;  but  when  evening  began  to  draw  in,  it  was 
closed,  a  tinkling  bell  being  suspended  above  to  give  notice 
of  the  entrance  of  a  customer.  On  a  shelf,  or  ledge,  which 
ran  along  the  middle  of  the  window,  appeared  an  array  of 
small  glasses,  containing  brandy-balls,  peppermint-sticks, 
bull's-eyes,  hardbake,  acid  drops,  barley-sugar,  candy, 
horehound,  lollipops,  and  other  sweets  of  the  same  school 
of  confectionery.  On  the  board  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
window  appeared  bundles  of  fire-wood,  Flanders'  bricks, 
red  herrings,  a  basket  of  eggs,  a  huge  piece  of  Cheshire 
cheese,  three  or  four  ditto  Glo'ster,  some  bottles  of  blacking, 
five  or  six  bars  of  yellow  soap,  a  few  loaves  of  bread,  a  piece 
of  bacon,  a  bladder  of  hog's  lard,  a  box  of  "  real  Havanas  " 
made  of  cabbage  leaves,  some  jars  of  pickles,  and  a  small 
box  of  starch.   Suspended  to  the  woodwork  of  the  windows, 

33 


34  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


and  dangling  amidst  the  necessaries  and  luxuries  just 
enumerated;  were  divers  bunches  of  candles,  —  sixes,  eights, 
middling  tens,  and  farthing  rushlights. 

On  the  shelves  behind  the  counter  were  a  few  canisters  of 
tea  and  coffee,  some  jars  of  snuff  and  tobacco,  and  a  mis- 
cellaneous assortment  of  tinder-boxes,  tapes,  laces,  balls  of 
cotton  and  worsted,  papers  of  pins  and  needles,  brushes, 
balls  of  twine,  and  rounds  "  of  matches  with  sharp  yellow 
points  looking  like  the  beaks  of  callow  birds,  —  "  lucifers  " 
not  being  invented  in  those  times.  The  counter  itself  was 
furnished  with  drawers  containing  sugars  of  divers  descrip- 
tions; and  above  it,  to  a  horizontal  beam,  hung  a  further 
supply  of  candles,  forming  a  thick  fringe  of  tallow.  At  one 
end  of  the  counter  stood  more  loaves,  a  block  of  salt,  a  firkin 
of  butter,  and  a  tin  treacle-can.  Against  the  wall  rested 
a  nine-gallon  cask  of  very  small  beer,  with  two  or  three 
measures  in  readiness  to  serve  out  the  poor  thin  fluid;  and 
in  one  corner  of  the  shop  was  a  group  of  mops,  brooms,  and 
brushes.  A  nest  of  little  drawers,  with  the  labels  thumbed 
and  fingered  into  perfect  illegibility,  but  doubtless  containing 
pepper,  mustard,  spices,  and  such  Uke  articles,  was  discernible 
in  the  other  corner  of  this  complete  and  interesting  emporium 
of  commerce. 

The  sole  proprietor  of  the  establishment  was  Mr.  William 
Taggarty,  as  the  name  above  the  street  door  irrefragably 
proved.  But  who  was  the  happy  owner  of  so  compendious 
an  assortment  of  articles,  or,  as  the  brokers'  advertisements 
in  newspapers  would  have  described  it,  this  snug  concern? 
We  are  bound,  for  truth's  sake,  to  admit  that  the  appellation 
of  Taggarty  was  merely  ah  assumed  one  for  convenience' 
sake,  and  that  the  individual  bearing  it  was  none  other  than 
the  Kinchin-Grand  alluded  to  by  Jack  the  Foundling  in  his 
conversation  with  Mr.  Lawrence  Sampson. 

Behind  the  shop  there  was  a  small  parlour,  a  very  tiny 
place,  just  capable  of  holding  a  little  round  table  and  three 
chairs,  and  quite  filled  whenever  those  chairs  were  all 
occupied.  If  we  look  into  this  parlour  at  about  nine  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  on  the  day  after  the  occurrences  chronicled 
in  the  previous  chapter,  we  shall  find  Mr.  William  Taggarty 
seated  in  earnest  conversation  with  Richard  and  Sarah 
Melmoth. 

These  two  last-mentioned  individuals  have  already  been 


V 


THE  CHANDLER'S  SHOP  35 

described;  it  is  therefore  only  necessary  to  observe  that 
Taggarty  was  a  man  about  thirty-five  years  of  age,  thin, 
with  a  sort  of  shopkeeper's  stoop  in  his  gait,  and  having  a 
certain  greasy  appearance,  as  if  his  head  were  constantly 
coming  in  contact  with  the  candles  suspended  over  his 
counter,  and  his  hands  were  being  incessantly  wiped  upon  his 
dingy  apron. 

Upon  the  little  round  table  stood  a  bottle  of  gin  and  three 
glasses;  for  Mr.  Taggarty  was  regaling  his  visitors,  while 
discussing  with  them  certain  matters  of  importance. 

And  so  you  are  quite  sure  that  Jack  didn't  peach  agin 
the  Hangman?  "  said  Taggarty,  as  he  refilled  the  glasses. 

I'm  certain  he  didn't,"  replied  Dick  Melmoth.  He 
was  staying  with  Larry  Sampson  at  the  time,  as  I've  already 
told  you." 

"  Then  the  more  likely  that  he  did  blab,"  observed  Tag- 
garty. 

"  How  the  devil  could  he,  when  I  tell  you  that  none  of  us 
knowed  anything  about  the  matter  until  we  saw  it  in  the 
papers  on  Tuesday  morning?  "  exclaimed  Dick  Melmoth. 
"  Neither  me  or  Sal  was  told  of  it  beforehand,  and  there- 
fore I'm  sure  Jack  the  Foundling  wasn't.  Mr.  Coffin  kept 
it  precious  close  to  himself,  and  had  no  assistants  except 
the  footman  who  was  killed." 

"  Let  me  see,"  said  Taggarty,  in  a  musing  tone,  "  it  took 
place  on  Sunday  night." 

"  Yes,  and  this  is  Friday,"  remarked  Melmoth.  "  Jack 
the  Foundling  came  home  on  Tuesday,  as  soon  as  he  saw 
the  affair  in  the  paper.  He  sneaked  away  unbeknown  to 
Larry  Sampson;  and  the  instant  he  came  into  the  shop  in 
Fleet  Lane,  he  burst  out  crying,  saying  to  Sal  and  me, 
'  You  don't  think  I  had  any  hand  in  this?  '  We  knowed 
what  he  meant,  for  we  had  just  been  reading  the  account  in 
the  paper;  and  we  told  him  at  once  that  we  didn't  suspect 
him.   He  seemed  quite  cheered  by  that  assurance." 

"  Yes,  that  he  did,"  exclaimed  Sal.  "  I'm  sure  he  had 
nothing  to  do  with  it,"  and  what  with  the  effects  of  gin  and 
grief,  she  began  to  whimper. 

"  Well,  it's  a  bad  business,"  said  Taggarty,  shaking  his 
head.  And  yet  there's  one  consolation,"  he  added,  after 
a  pause. 

"  What's  that?  "  demanded  Sally  Melmoth,  eagerly. 


36 


THE  COURT   OF  LONDON 


Why,  that  a  man  who  is  drowned  can't  be  hanged/* 
replied  the  chandler,  very  seriously. 

Ah!  well,  so  it  is,"  observed  the  woman,  also  shaking 
her  head.  Then,  having  drained  her  glass,  she  continued, 
in  a  whimpering  tone,  Poor  Daniel's  gone  for  ever!  Who'd 
have  thought  that  he  was  born  to  be  drowned  in  the 
Thames?  I'm  sure  I  shall  never  drink  another  drop  of  that 
water  as  long  as  I  live,"  she  added;  and  thus  speaking,  she 
held  out  her  glass  for  Taggarty  to  refill  it  with  gin. 

"  But  who  could  have  peached?  "  said  this  individual,  as 
he  did  the  honours  with  the  bottle.  "  You  see  that  the 
constables  were  concealed  already  in  the  house  at  Richmond." 

"  Perhaps  the  footman  himself  had  either  repented,  or 
else  was  a  traitor  all  along,"  observed  Dick  Melmoth;  and 
may  be  that  Mr.  Coffin  meant  to  shoot  him,  though  the  papers 
say  he  aimed  the  pistol  at  Larry  Sampson." 

Well,  that's  hkely  enough,"  said  Taggarty.  "  And  now, 
what  are  you  going  to  do?  Shall  you  keep  the  shop  open 
in  Fleet  Lane?  " 

"To  be  sure,"  replied  Dick.  "  How  the  devil  are  we  to 
live  unless  we  do?  " 

"  Ah!  that's  right,"  said  Taggarty.  "  Don't  go  back  to 
your  old  practices,  unless  it  is  in  a  quiet  way;  but,  at  all 
events,  keep  the  shop  as  a  blind.  Look  at  me,  my  dear 
friends,  I'm  getting  on  well,  and  without  no  danger  too. 
I  keep  my  hands  from  wrongfully  prigging;  but  if  a  feller 
brings  in  a  cheese  to  sell,  or  a  ham,  or  a  bit  of  bacon,  or  what 
not,  I  don't  ask  any  questions,  but  give  him  a  trifle  for  the 
goods.  He  may  have  filched  them,  but  no  one  can  bring  the 
thing  home  to  me.  Ah!  them  was  rum  times  when  we  was 
all  together  at  the  Kinchin-Ken  in  Grub  Street,  and  when 
the  poor  Shickster  was  alive.  Wouldn't  she  have  been  proud 
to  serve  behind  that  there  counter  in  such  a  snug  concern 
as  this?"  added  the  chandler,  jerking  his  thumb  over  his 
shoulder  in  the  direction  of  the  shop. 

"  Well,  it  is  a  nice  place,  so  compact,"  observed  Dick 
Melmoth,  glancing  around  from  the  parlour  toward  the 
magazine  of  miscellaneous  goods. 

By  the  bye,"  said  Taggarty,  "  you  haven't  told  me 
how  Jack  the  Foundling  was  treated  at  Larry  Sampson's." 

"  Oh,  like  a  prince,"  answered  Dick.  "  He  says  that  he 
feels  all  manner  of  kind  and  grateful  things  toward  Mr. 


V 


THE  CHANDLEK'S  SHOP  37 

Sampson,  and  he  was  sorry  to  be  compelled  to  leave  him. 
But  he  couldn't  stay  after  the  business  down  at  Richmond. 
He  says  that  he  knows  Mr.  Sampson  only  performed  his 
duty  in  that  respect;  but  still  he  had  not  the  heart  to  remain 
with  the  man  who  may  be  said  to  be  the  cause  of  poor 
Coffin's  death. 

"  Of  course,"  observed  Taggarty.  For  if  Sampson  and 
his  people  hadn't  been  planted  there,  the  Hangman  wouldn't 
have  run  off  and  been  drowned  in  the  river.  That's  quite 
clear." 

"  Quite  clear  indeed,"  whimpered  Sally  Melmoth,  again 
seeking  consolation  in  the  gin. 

At  this  moment  the  shop-bell  tinkled  as  the  glazed  door 
was  opened  by  some  one  entering  the  place;  and  Taggarty, 
observing  that  it  was  no  doubt  some  customer,  hastened 
from  the  parlour,  closing  the  door  behind  him.  Immediately 
afterward,  Dick  and  Sally  Melmoth  heard  the  outer  door 
shut  again  also;  then  an  ejaculation  of  amazement,  bursting 
from  Taggarty's  lips,  met  their  ears,  and  this  was  followed 
by  some  hurried  and  subdued  whispering  between  that 
individual  and  the  person  who  had  just  entered  the  shop. 

"  Something's  going  on,"  said  Dick  Melmoth,  in  a  low 
voice,  to  his  sister. 

But  before  the  woman  could  make  any  reply,  Taggarty 
reappeared,  followed  by  a  man  so  muffled  up  in  a  great  thick 
coat,  a  shawl  neckerchief,  and  a  slouched  hat,  that  he  was 
not  immediately  recognizable.  But  a  presentiment  of  the 
truth  flashed  to  the  mind  of  Sally  Melmoth;  and  starting  at 
once  from  her  seat,  she  exclaimed,  "  It's  Daniel!  " 

"  Yes,  it's  me  safe  enough,"  said  the  Hangman,  in  a  surly 
tone,  as  he  laid  aside  his  hat  and  shawl  neckerchief;  then 
having  submitted  somewhat  impatiently  to  the  caresses  of 
his  paramour,  who  was  quite  maudhn  with  strong  drink, 
and  after  shaking  Dick  Melmoth  by  the  hand,  he  sat  down 
between  the  astonished  pair. 

Taggarty  hastened  to  bolt  the  street  door;  then,  return- 
ing into  the  parlour,  he  poured  out  a  tumblerful  of  gin, 
which  he  handed  to  Coffin,  who  at  once  partook  of  a  deep 
draught. 

"  Wefl,  I  suppose  you're  rather  surprised  to  see  me,"  said 
the  Hangman,  gasping  with  the  effects  of  the  potent  fluid 
which  for  nearly  a  minute  took  away  his  breath.      No  doubt 


38  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


you  thought  I  was  dead  and  gone?  I've  seen  the  news- 
papers, and  find  that  the  beUef  is  I  was  drowned.  Well, 
so  much  the  better.  But  it's  a  precious  bad  job,  after  all." 

Bad  indeed,"  observed  Sal.  "  I  suppose  you  won't  be 
able  to  come  home  again  in  a  hurry?  " 

I  don't  see  how  the  deuce  I'm  ever  to  come  home  again 
at  all,"  replied  the  Hangman,  his  countenance  assuming  an 
expression  of  diabolical  ferocity,  as  if  he  thought  the  whole 
world  had  turned  against  him.  "  There's  only  two  chances 
for  me,  and  they're  not  likely  to  come  about." 

"  What  are  they?  "  inquired  the  Melmoths,  speaking,  as 
it  were,  in  the  same  breath. 

"  Why,  one  is  the  death  of  Larry  Sampson,"  answered 
Coffin;  "  because  if  he  was  out  of  the  way,  the  other  con- 
stables could  be  easily  bought  over  to  say  they  couldn't 
identify  me  as  the  burglar.  I  know  'em  all  well  enough 
to  be  aware  of  what  a  ten-pound  note  would  do  with 
each." 

And  what  is  the  other  chance?  "  inquired  Taggarty. 

Why,  if  there's  somebody  to  be  hung  and  no  one  to  hang 
him,  some  fine  morning,"  returned  Coffin,  "  a  free  pardon 
for  any  past  offences  would  be  offered  to  the  individual  that 
would  take  the  place  of  the  executioner;  and  then  I  might 
come  forward  and  step  easy  enough  into  my  old  berth.  Those 
are  the  two  chances;  but  they're  far  away  off  at  present, 
and  no  mistake." 

^'  Less  probable  things  have  come  about,"  observed 
Taggarty. 

"  Well,  we  shall  see,"  said  Coffin.  "  Where's  Jack?  "  he 
demanded,  abruptly. 

"  At  home  again,"  answered  Dick.  "  You  don't  suspect 
him  at  all?  " 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  rejoined  the  Hangman.  "  He  wasn't 
aware  that  such  a  thing  was  in  contemplation  at  Richmond 
at  all.  But  I  can  guess  how  it  was.  Me  and  the  footman  — 
poor  fellow!  —  was  foolish  enough  to  discuss  our  plans  one 
night  last  week  in  a  tap-room  at  Richmond,  where  a  country 
bumpkin  was  getting  his  supper.  We  thought  he  went  to 
sleep  after  he'd  gorged  himself  with  bread  and  cheese;  but 
he  must  have  shammed,  and  so  overheard  what  we  said.  It 
was  infernally  stupid  on  our  part;  it's  cost  the  poor  devil  of 
a  footman  his  life,  and  made  me  a  sort  of  exile  and  wanderer 


THE  CHANDLER'S  SHOP 


39 


like  Cain.  Perdition  take  the  whole  business! "  added 
Daniel,  with  savage  earnestness. 

But  what  have  you  been  doing  all  this  time?  "  asked 
Dick  Melmoth;  "  and  how  did  you  manage  to  escape 
drowning?  " 

Oh,  the  tide  carried  me  ashore  a  little  way  lower  down 
than  where  I  jumped  in,"  responded  Coffin;  "  and  then  I 
cut  across  to  Beechey  Manor,  —  you  know  the  place,"  he 
observed,  with  a  significant  glance  at  Dick  Melmoth.  "  There 
I've  been  hiding  until  now;  but  I  got  so  deuced  tired  of 
living  cooped  up  in  a  small  bedroom,  and  the  two  old  serv- 
ants have  shown  so  much  uneasiness  at  my  presence,  that 
I  could  endure  it  all  no  longer.  So  I  got  this  thick  coat,  this 
broad-brimmed  hat,  and  that  shawl  neckerchief  of  the  old 
fellow,  and  resolved  to  come  and  pay  my  friend  Bill  Taggarty 
a  visit.  If  you  two  hadn't  been  here  by  accident,  I  should 
have  got  Bill  to  run  down  to  Fleet  Lane  and  fetch  you  up 
to  meet  me.  So  now  you  know  all  about  it." 

But  what  are  you  going  to  do,  and  where  do  you  mean 
to  live?  "  asked  Sally  Melmoth. 

"  Well,  I  haven't  exactly  made  up  my  mind,  "  returned 
Coffin.  "  You  must  continue  at  the  shop,  and  let  people 
fancy  you  still  believe  me  to  have  been  drowned.  I  have 
got  plenty  of  blunt,  that's  one  good  thing;  and  it's  fortunate 
it  was  all  in  gold,  or  else  the  soaking  I  enjoyed  in  the  Thames 
would  have  spoilt  flimsy-notes  beyond  all  redemption.  Per- 
haps I  shall  stay  with  Bill  Taggarty  for  a  time;  he's  all  alone 
in  this  house  —  ain't  you.  Bill?  " 

"  Yes,  I'm  all  alone,"  was  the  chandler's  response;  but 
it  was  given  with  an  evident  aversion  to  the  proposed  so- 
journ of  the  Hangman  at  his  house. 

"  Or  else  I  shall  go  over  to  Bencull's  crib  at  the  Folly 
Bridges,"  continued  the  Hangman,  not  choosing  to  observe 
the  disinclination  of  Bill  Taggarty  to  harbour  him  as  a 
guest. 

"  Hark!  "  said  the  chandler,  abruptly;  "  there's  a  knock 
at  the  street  door." 

"  And  rather  an  impatient  one,  too,"  added  Daniel  Coffin, 
rising  from  his  seat  with  evident  trepidation.  "  I  mustn't 
be  seen  here  by  anybody.  Bill,  you  know." 

"  Then  just  step  up-stairs  along  with  Sal  and  Dick,"  said 
Taggarty,  opening  a  door  and  thus  disclosing  a  flight  of 


40  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


narrow  steps  formed,  as  it  were,  in  a  recess.  "  It  may  be 
some  one  that  I  must  see,  and  you'll  be  more  quiet  up  in  my 
bedroom." 

The  Hangman  took  up  his  hat  and  neckerchief,  Sally 
Melmoth  possessed  herself  of  the  gin,  and  Dick  laid  hands 
on  the  glasses;  they  then  all  three  hastened  up-stairs, 
Taggarty  shutting  the  door  behind  them.  He  then  proceeded 
to  open  the  shop  door,  and  the  rays  of  the  candle  which  he 
held  in  his  hand  fell  full  upon  the  countenance  of  Mr.  Larry 
Sampson. 

The  first  and  most  natural  thought  which  instantaneously 
flashed  to  the  mind  of  Taggarty  was  that  the  Bow  Street 
ofiicer  had  traced  the  Hangman  thither  and  was  come  to 
arrest  him;  and  the  chandler's  looks  accordingly  grew 
troubled,  for  he  felt  that  he  was  suddenly  involved  in  no 
small  danger  for  harbouring  the  delinquent. 

"  Good  evening,  Mr.  Taggarty,"  said  Sampson,  in  his 
usual  quiet  manner,  and  not  appearing  to  notice  the  con- 
fusion of  the  chandler.  "  I  want  to  have  a  little  conversa- 
tion with  you  if  you  are  disengaged." 

With  me,  sir?  "  exclaimed  Taggarty,  flinging  a  rapid 
glance  into  the  street  and  experiencing  some  relief  on  ob- 
serving that  the  oflScer  was  apparently  alone,  or  at  all  events 
had  not  a  posse  of  constables  at  his  back.  "  With  me,  sir?  " 
he  repeated,  in  a  less  incoherent  manner. 

Yes,  upon  no  professional  business,  however,"  replied 
Larry,  emphatically;  for  he  failed  not  to  observe  that  his 
presence  was  very  far  from  welcome. 

Walk  in,  sir,  walk  in,"  said  Taggarty,  endeavouring  to 
look  as  composed  and  unconcerned  as  possible;  and,  having 
shut  and  bolted  the  door  again,  he  conducted  the  ofl&cer 
into  his  little  parlour.  "  Pray  sit  down,  Mr.  Sampson;  let 
me  take  your  hat;  there,  make  yourself  at  home,  sir.  And 
now,  shall  it  be  gin,  rum,  or  brandy?  " 

"  Neither,  thank  you,  Mr.  Taggarty,"  was  the  response. 
"  I  hope  I  am  not  intruding  upon  you  at  this  moment,  but 
you  appear  to  be  all  alone." 

Oh,  yes,  quite  alone,  Mr.  Sampson,"  replied  the  chandler, 
but  with  just  a  sufficiency  of  lingering  uneasiness  to  throw 
some  doubt  upon  the  assertion;  and  as  he  glanced  mechanic- 
ally toward  the  door  of  the  staircase,  Sampson  at  once  per- 
ceived that,  although  the  chandler  might  have  been  alone 


THE  CHANDLER'S  SHOP 


41 


in  that  room,  he  assuredly  was  not  alone  in  the  house  pre- 
vious to  his  (the  officer's)  arrival. 

"  I  want  to  speak  to  you  upon  a  very  particular  and  im- 
portant matter,"  said  Larry,  in  a  low  and  confidential  tone, 
—  "a  matter  which,  if  you  can  serve  me  in  it,  will  put  a 
hundred  guineas  into  your  pocket." 

Taggarty  instantaneously  thought  within  himself  that 
Sampson  wanted  him  to  betray  Daniel  Coffin  into  his  hands; 
and  his  mind  was  at  once  made  up  not  to  have  anything  to  do 
with  an  affair  that  would  inevitably  bring  all  the  Hangman's 
confederates  and  accomplices,  from  every  part  of  London, 
like  a  hornets'  nest,  about  his  ears.     He  accordingly  said, 

If  it's  any  dirty  work,  Mr.  Sampson,  I  sha'n't  do  it." 

"  I  do  not  think  you  will  look  upon  it  as  dirty  work  at  all," 
responded  the  officer,  still  speaking  in  a  low  and  guarded 
tone.  "  But  tell  me  frankly  whether  we  can  converse  in  this 
room  without  the  chance  of  being  overheard." 

"  Well,  there's  a  young  'oman  of  my  acquaintance  up- 
stairs, doing  out  the  bedchamber,"  answered  Taggarty, 

and  if  she  listens,  she  may  overhear  us." 

Then  will  you  step  around  with  me  to  the  nearest  public- 
house?  "  asked  Sampson. 

"  The  truth  is,  I  am  expecting  a  friend  or  two,"  replied 
the  chandler,  ^'  and  I  can't  very  well  leave.  But  just  say 
in  a  whisper  what  the  business  is  about." 

"  It  is  relative  to  a  lad  called  Jack  the  Foundling,"  rejoined 
the  officer,  looking  Taggarty  very  hard  in  the  face. 

"  And  what  about  him?  "  asked  the  latter,  eagerly. 
That  is  just  the  question  which  I  am  going  to  put  to  you," 
said  Larry.  ^'  Now,  I  want  to  ascertain  all  the  particulars 
I  can  possibly  glean  concerning  the  infancy  of  that  lad;  and 
if  you  will  assist  me,  there  are  a  hundred  guineas  in  my 
pocket  at  your  service." 

"  A  hundred  guineas? "  repeated  Taggarty,  his  eyes 
brightening.  I  must  sell  a  great  many  pen'norths  of  tea 
and  slices  of  cheese  to  scrape  that  sum  together.  Well,  sir, 
what  is  it  you  wish  to  know?  "  he  asked,  in  a  very  subdued 
voice. 

"  I  am  already  aware,"  responded  Larry,  "  that  a  great 
mystery  envelops  the  birth  of  the  lad.  He  was  either 
found  or  stolen;  and  it  was  a  boy  called  James  Melmoth 
who  took  him,  when  a  babe,  to  the  den  in  Grub  Street, 


42 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


whence  you  have  derived  your  nickname  of  the  Kinchin- 
Grand.  I  also  know  that  the  present  Richard  and  Sarah 
Melmoth,  who  have  been  Uving  with  the  deceased  Daniel 
Coffin,  are  the  brother  and  sister  of  that  James  Melmoth  of 
whom  I  have  spoken,  but  who  has  long  been  dead.  I  am 
moreover  aware  that  your  late  mistress,  Shickster  Sal, 
brought  up  the  Foundling." 

"  Then,  if  you  know  all  this,  Mr.  Sampson,"  said  Taggarty, 
"  what  more  can  you  expect  to  glean  from  me?  "  and  the 
chandler  now  felt  easier  in  his  mind,  because  he  saw,  from 
an  observation  just  made  by  Larry,  that  he  really  supposed 
the  Hangman  to  have  been  drowned,  and  that  consequently 
his  visit  to  Mutton  Hill  at  such  a  moment  was  purely  an 
accidental  coincidence. 

I  expect  to  glean  from  you  any  additional  information 
which  you  may  be  enabled  to  impart,"  said  Sampson. 
"  In  the  first  place,  endeavour  to  recollect  the  precise  date 
on  which  the  babe  was  brought  to  the  Kinchin-Ken  in  Grub 
Street." 

"  It  was  the  1st  of  June,  1795,"  answered  Taggarty. 
"  How  do  you  recollect  the  date  so  well?  "  inquired  Larry 
Sampson. 

"  Because  I  remember  that  it  was  the  day  before  James 
Melmoth's  father  murdered  Sir  Richard  Stamford  in  Windsor 
Park,  and  then  blew  out  his  own  brains,"  was  Taggarty' s 
response. 

"  It  was  not  known  for  some  time  afterward  that  the 
assassin  of  the  baronet  was  the  same  wretched  man  whose 
previous  enormities  had  so  horrified  the  metropolis." 

"  But  I  knew  it  was  the  same  man,"  observed  Taggarty, 
in  a  scarcely  audible  whisper,  "  because  his  son,  young 
James,  told  me  so  at  the  time.  Afterward  I  mentioned  the 
circumstance  to  my  pals,  it  got  talked  about,  and  this  was 
the  way  the  pubhc  at  length  knew  that  James  Melmoth, 
senior,  was  the  assassin  of  Sir  Richard  Stamford." 

"  Now,  was  not  the  babe  stolen  by  that  man  and  his 
son  James?  "  asked  Sampson. 

"  He  was,"  replied  Taggarty.  I  don't  see  any  harm 
in  telling  you  the  real  truth  now." 

Certainly  not.  And  it  was  in  Hyde  Park  that  the  babe 
was  thus  stolen?  " 

"  It  was.    But  you  seem  to  know  all  about  it,"  said  the 


THE  CHANDLER'S  SHOP 


43 


chandler,  in  surprise.  Yet  I  do  not  see  how  you  can 
possibly  have  learned  this;  for  I  have  never  divulged  the 
secret  until  now.  Neither  Dick  nor  Sal  Melmoth  knew  so 
much  about  the  business.  They  were  children  at  the  time 
it  happened;  but  their  eldest  brother  James  made  me  his 
confidant  to  a  certain  extent." 

"  Did  he  tell  you  whose  child  it  was?  "  asked  Sampson. 
No.    He  had  sworn  a  most  solemn  oath  to  his  father 
not  to  reveal  the  secret  of  the  child's  parentage  until  it 
was  at  least  twelve  years  of  age." 

"  Do  you  know  why  the  Melmoths  stole  the  child?  " 
demanded  Larry. 

Because  they  had  some  dreadful  spite  against  its  parents, 
I  believe.  But  you  are  perhaps  aware  that  young  James 
Melmoth  died  a  violent  death  within  a  few  days  after  his 
father's  suicide;  and  thus  in  the  interval  he  had  not  much 
leisure  to  be  over  communicative  with  me." 

"  Is  this  all  you  know?  "  inquired  Larry  Sampson.  Then, 
seeing  that  Taggarty  hesitated,  he  produced  a  bag  of  gold 
and  counted  down  a  hundred  guineas  upon  the  table, 
saying,  "  If  you  can  give  me  any  further  proofs  relative 
to  the  circumstances  of  which  we  have  been  speaking,  this 
sum  is  yours." 

"  Stop  a  moment,"  observed  Taggarty.  "  If  the  Foundling 
should  turn  out  to  be  the  son  of  wealthy  or  great  folks,  how 
do  I  know  but  what  I  shall  get  into  trouble  for  having 
been  a  sort  of  accessory  to  the  harbouring  of  him  after  he 
was  stolen?  " 

"  I  will  give  you  a  written  guarantee  that  no  harm  shall 
befall  you,"  replied  Sampson. 

"  Your  word  will  do,  sir,"  rejoined  the  chandler.  "  And 
now  I  will  fetch  you  the  only  proofs  that  I  can  put  into 
your  hands,  but  they  will  no  doubt  be  found  convincing 
enough." 

Having  thus  spoken,  Taggarty  rose  and  ascended  the 
staircase,  shutting  the  door  carefully  behind  him.  On 
entering  the  bed-room  up-stairs,  he  found  the  Hangman, 
Dick  Melmoth,  and  Sally  engaged  in  earnest  conversation 
together  upon  their  future  plans  and  proceedings  under 
existing  circumstances;  but  they  were  all  astounded  and 
alarmed  when  the  chandler  informed  them  that  his  guest 
was  none  other  than  the  terrible  Lawrence  Sampson. 


44  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


In  a  few  hurried  words,  however,  and  in  a  whispered  tone, 
Taggarty  explained  to  them  the  object  of  the  officer's  visit, 
whereat  they  were  profoundly  surprised;  but  the  chandler 
did  not  vouchsafe  to  inform  them  that  Sampson's  liberality 
had  extended  to  a  hundred  guineas.  He  was  afraid  they 
might  claim  shares,  the  matter  having  reference  to  the 
Foundhng,  in  whom  they  were  all  interested.  He  therefore 
coolly  and  quietly  suppressed  an  0,  thus  reducing  the  reward 
from  100  guineas  to  10  guineas. 

Having  given  these  few  hurried  explanations,  he  unlocked 
a  drawer,  took  out  a  brown-paper  parcel,  and  was  about 
to  descend  to  the  parlour  again  when  Daniel  Coffin  clutched 
him  abruptly  by  the  arm,  saying,  in  a  hollow  whisper, 
"  Bill,  are  you  man  enough  to  do  me  a  service?  " 

^  What  do  you  want?  "  asked  Taggarty,  recoiling,  with 
an  instinctive  shudder;  for  the  Hangman's  meaning  flashed 
in  a  moment  to  his  comprehension. 

Larry  Sampson  is  below,"  rephed  Coffin,  and  those 
who  might  have  seen  him  come  in  won't  be  waiting  to 
observe  if  he  ever  goes  out  again,"  he  added,  with  a  look 
of  diabolical  significancy. 

"  No,  no,  I  couldn't  do  it,  Dan'el,  I  couldn't  do  it," 
answered  Taggarty,  his  countenance  becoming  pale  as 
death,  and  his  knees  trembhng  under  him. 

"  Coward!  "  ejaculated  the  Hangman,  with  bitter  ferocity, 
as  he  pushed  the  chandler  away  from  him.  Then,  instantly 
observing  the  malignant  expression  of  vindictiveness  which 
appeared  upon  Taggarty's  countenance,  he  said,  "  Come, 
don't  be  angry.  Bill,  I  didn't  mean  it.  But  you  must  make 
allowances  for  one  placed  in  such  an  infernal  predicament 
as  I  am." 

"  Yes,  pray  don't  think  any  more  of  it,  Bill,"  said  Sally 
Melmoth,  in  a  tone  of  earnest  entreaty;  and  Dick  also 
endeavoured  to  propitiate  the  chandler. 

You  needn't  suppose  I  should  betray  you,  Dan'el," 
observed  Taggarty. 

"  But  will  you  help  me  to  —  to  —  " 

"  To  make  away  with  Larry  Sampson?   No!  " 

And  with  this  emphatic  reply,  the  chandler  quitted  the 
room. 

Descending  to  the  parlour,  he  again  carefully  closed  the 
door  of  the  staircase  behind  him,  and  resuming  his  seat. 


THE  CHANDLER'S  SHOP 


45 


he  opened  the  brown-paper  parcel.  But  his  hands  trembled 
visibly,  and  his  cheeks  were  also  still  pale  and  ghastly  from 
the  mingled  sensations  excited  by  the  scene  that  had  just 
occurred  in  the  bedchamber  above.  Larry  Sampson,  upon 
whose  keenness  even  the  least  perceptible  emotion  was 
never  lost,  could  not  fail  to  observe  an  agitation  so  marked 
as  this;  but  he  affected  not  to  notice  it,  while  all  the  time 
he  was  wondering  what  could  have  produced  such  an 
impression  upon  the  Kinchin-Grand,  and  who  the  person 
or  persons  might  be  that  had  so  produced  it. 

"  What  have  you  got  there,  Taggarty?  "  he  inquired. 

"  The  clothes  the  Foundling  had  on  the  day  he  was 
stolen  and  brought  to  the  Kinchin-Ken  in  Grub  Street,'^ 
was  the  answer.  Then,  as  Taggarty  proceeded  to  open 
the  parcel  and  display  its  contents,  he  said,  "  Here's  the 
hat  and  feathers,  the  little  frock,  all  covered  with  neat 
braiding,  somewhat  faded  now  notwithstanding,  and  here's 
the  petticoats,  the  little  socks,  and  the  tiny  shoes.  I've 
always  kept  them  things  by  me  through  every  wicissitude; 
for  somehow  or  another  I  thought  they'd  be  of  service  sooner 
or  later." 

*'  You  have  acted  well  and  wisely,"  said  the  officer.  "  Take 
the  hundred  guineas,  and  I  shall  keep  these  things.  I 
suppose  you  meant  me  to  do  so?  " 

"  By  all  manner  of  means,"  replied  Taggarty,  as  he  tied 
up  the  parcel  again.  "  And  now,  Mr.  Sampson,  won't 
you  take  a  drop  of  summut  short?  " 

^'  I  would  much  rather  not,  thank  you,"  returned  Larry. 

Good  night." 

The  chandler,  having  hastily  gathered  up  the  money  and 
consigned  the  coin  to  his  pocket,  proceeded  to  unfasten  the 
shop  door  to  let  Mr.  Sampson  out;  and  as  soon  as  the  officer 
disappeared,  he  shut  and  bolted  it  again. 

But  Larry  did  not  immediately  quit  the  neighbourhood. 
He  was  resolved  to  wait  and  see  who  the  person  or  persons 
might  be  that  were  secreted  in  Mr.  Taggarty's  upper  room. 
His  mode  of  action  was  decisively  determined  on,  and 
promptly  carried  into  execution.  Entering  the  shop  of  an 
old-clothes  dealer,  to  whom  he  was  well  known,  he  remained 
there  only  five  minutes,  and  issued  forth  again  completely 
metamorphosed  from  head  to  foot.  In  fact,  he  was  ap- 
parelled as  an  old  woman,  with  a  dark  brown  cloak,  and  the 


46  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


hood  drawn  over  his  countenance,  which  was  further  shaded 
by  a  dingy  cap  having  an  enormous  frill.  He  carried  a 
bundle  of  matches  in  his  hand,  and  in  this  disguise  posted 
himself  exactly  opposite  the  door  of  the  chandler's  shop. 

Nearly  an  hour  passed,  and  no  one  came  forth.  But 
several  halfpence  were  thrust  into  Sampson's  hand  by  poor 
working  men  and  their  wives  returning  home,  and  who  took 
him  to  be  an  aged  beggar-woman.  He  was  sorry  thus  to 
receive  the  donations  of  humble  charity;  but  he  could  not 
refuse  them,  for  fear  of  exciting  suspicion  and  perhaps 
leading  to  detection  and  disturbance. 

Time  passed  on,  midnight  was  proclaimed  by  the  iron 
tongue  of  Clerkenwell  Church,  and  still  Larry  stayed  at  his 
post.  He  would  have  remained  there  till  morning  if  neces- 
sary; but  observing  no  lights  in  Taggarty's  bedroom,  he 
felt  assured  that  the  chandler  had  not  as  yet  retired  to  rest. 
Presently  the  shop  door  opened,  and  Taggarty  himself 
appeared  upon  the  threshold,  looking  anxiously  up  and 
down.  Sampson,  in  a  whining  voice,  besought  charity; 
but  the  chandler,  taking  no  heed  of  the  prayer,  retired  into 
the  shop.  Immediately  afterward  a  woman  came  forth  as 
far  as  the  threshold,  and  also  looked  intently  up  and  down 
the  narrow  street.  A  light  from  an  opposite  window  gleamed 
upon  her  countenance,  and  Sampson  had  no  difficulty  in 
recognizing  Sally  Melmoth. 

She  retired  into  the  shop,  the  door  of  which  still  remained 
open;  and  in  a  few  minutes  Dick  Melmoth,  whom  Larry 
also  recognized,  came  forward  with  the  evident  object  of 
ascertaining  if  the  coast  was  clear.  Sampson  saw  that 
something  strange  was  going  on;  but  of  what  it  was  he  had 
not  the  most  distant  suspicion.  He  nevertheless  determined 
to  ascertain  the  point,  if  possible,  and  was  rejoiced  that  he 
had  thus  kept  watch  upon  the  chandler's  premises. 

Dick  Melmoth  having  retired  again  as  the  others  had 
done,  there  was  another  pause  in  the  proceedings ;  and  then, 
at  the  expiration  of  about  two  minutes,  a  man  hurried  forth 
and  sped  down  the  hill  toward  the  Sessions  House.  He  was 
muffled  in  a  great  thick  coat,  wore  a  broad-brimmed  hat, 
much  slouched  over  his  features,  and  all  the  lower  part  of 
his  face  was  concealed  in  a  thick  shawl  neckerchief. 

Do,  dear  sir,  for  the  love  of  Heaven,  bestow  your 
charity  on  a  poor  old  woman,"  said  Larry  Sampson,  with 


THE  CHANDLER'S  SHOP  47 


the  piteous  whine  of  mendicancy,  as  he  passed  close  up  to 
the  side  of  the  man. 

Get  out,  you  old  crone!  "  growled  the  fellow,  his  eyes 
glaring  savagely  from  beneath  the  broad-brimmed  hat; 
and,  thus  speaking,  he  bolted  around  the  corner,  passed 
behind  the  Sessions  House,  and  gained  Turnmill  Street. 

For  the  first  time  in  his  life  Larry  Sampson  was  thrown 
quite  aback  for  the  moment.  His  purpose  was  so  far 
answered  that  he  had  succeeded  in  catching  a  glimpse  of 
the  man's  features;  but  his  amazement  may  be  understood 
when  he  found  that  the  muffled  individual  was  none  other 
than  Daniel  Coffln  the  Hangman.  The  unmistakable  tone 
of  the  voice  simultaneously  confirmed  the  fact;  and  if 
further  proof  were  wanting,  it  was  at  once  seen  in  the 
circumstance  that  Dick  and  Sally  Melmoth  were  at  Tag- 
garty's  when  he  issued  forth,  and  that  such  care  had  been 
taken  to  ascertain  that  the  coast  was  clear  for  his  exit 
thence. 

Speedily  recovering  his  self-possession,  however,  Larry 
Sampson  instantaneously  revolved  in  his  mind  the  diffi- 
culties of  his  position.  His  first  impulse  was  to  fling  off  the 
old  woman's  garb  and  hasten  in  pursuit;  but  a  rescue  was 
certain  to  be  effected  in  that  vile  neighbourhood  the  instant 
the  alarm  of  "  an  officer  "  should  be  raised.  Moreover,  the 
disguise  would  be  found.  Coffin  would  hear  of  it  and  suspect 
who  the  old  beggar-woman  was,  and,  perceiving  that  his 
existence  was  known,  he  would  either  double  his  precautions 
against  discovery,  or  else  leave  the  country.  On  the  other 
hand,  to  retain  the  disguise  and  pursue  him  in  it  would 
only  be  to  attract  certain  attention,  without  frustrating 
the  chances  of  Coffin's  rescue  or  escape.  Sampson  therefore 
retraced  his  way  to  his  friend  the  old-clothes  dealer,  laid 
aside  the  cloak  and  cap,  and  proceeded  homeward,  with  the 
intention  of  losing  no  time  in  setting  a  watch  upon  all  the 
places  and  neighbourhoods  where  the  Hangman  was  likely 
to  conceal  himself. 


CHAPTER  V 


THE  JOURNEY  TO  PARIS 

Let  us  now  return  to  Agatha,  Emma,  and  Julia  Owen, 
who  had  embarked  at  Woolwich  on  board  a  revenue  cruiser, 
to  be  conveyed  to  France.  They  were  attended  by  an 
elderly  gentlewoman  who  served  as  a  sort  of  duenna,  or 
guardian,  and  who  had  long  been  intimate  with  Mrs.  Owen, 
the  young  ladies'  delectable  mother.  She  was  a  widow, 
her  name  was  Ranger,  and,  having  no  ostensible  means 
of  income,  was  very  glad  to  make  money  by  any  means, 
no  matter  what  intrigue  or  machination  might  be  involved 
in  the  service  entrusted  to  her. 

She  was  not,  however,  entirely  in  the  secret  of  the  young 
ladies'  mission  to  the  Continent.  She  knew  that  they  were 
to  enter  the  household  of  the  Princess  of  Wales;  she  was 
likewise  well  aware  that  the  royal  princes  had  for  some 
time  past  been  frequent  visitors  at  the  mansion  at  Rich- 
mond; and  her  idea  of  female  virtue  was  not  of  such  an 
exalted  character  as  to  induce  her  to  suppose  that  a  mere 
platonic  friendship  had  subsisted  between  the  Misses  Owen 
and  the  voluptuary  sons  of  George  III.  The  construction 
she  therefore  put  upon  the  matter  was  that  the  young 
ladies,  having  bestowed  their  favours  upon  the  princes, 
were  rewarded  by  obtaining,  through  their  indirect  influence 
and  recommendations,  lucrative  posts  in  the  household  of 
the  Princess  of  Wales. 

Mrs.  Ranger  herself  was  the  most  plausible  woman  in 
existence,  though  in  reality  a  perfect  Hecate  of  iniquity. 
She  was  indeed  ten  thousand  times  worse  than  Mrs.  Owen 
suspected  her  to  be.  This  lady  fancied  that  she  was  merel}^ 
an  astute,  clever,  and  shrewd  woman,  not  overparticular 
how  she  made  money  nor  in  what  service  she  was  enlisted, 

48 


THE  JOURNEY  TO  PARIS  49 


but  fully  trustworthy  by  an  employer;  whereas  Mrs.  Ranger 
was  in  reality  a  thoroughly  unprincipled,  artful,  and  aban- 
doned wretch,  capable  of  selling  the  charms  and  making  a 
market  of  the  young  girls  confided  to  her  care.  She  had 
smiled  inwardly  when  Mrs.  Owen,  on  giving  her  last 
instructions,  had  enjoined  her  to  keep  a  careful  watch 
over  the  virtue  of  her  daughters;  but  externally  she 
had  assumed  a  matronly  and  duenna-like  air,  confirming 
with  the  most  sacred  assurances  the  impression  which 
this  staid  and  cautious  aspect  had  left  upon  the  mother's 
mind. 

Her  personal  appearance  was  as  false  as  her  mind.  She 
used  cosmetics  with  so  elaborate  a  skill  and  so  ingeniously 
supplied  the  faded  charms  and  wrinkled  deformities  of 
nature  with  the  succedaneous  remedies  of  art,  that  her 
withered  form  assumed  a  buxom  shape  and  her  countenance 
bore  a  richer  bloom  than  ever  had  clothed  it  even  in  the 
springtide  of  her  youth.  She  was  midway  between  fifty 
and  sixty;  but  what  with  false  hair,  false  teeth,  and  the 
various  artificial  appliances  alluded  to,  she  managed  to 
pass  herself  off  as  at  least  ten  years  younger. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Mary  Owen  had  withdrawn 
herself  from  any  further  share  in  the  secret  conspiracy 
hatched  under  royal  auspices  against  the  honour,  happiness, 
and  even  life  of  the  Princess  Caroline  of  Wales.  Agatha, 
Emma,  and  Julia  accordingly  embarked  without  their 
youngest  sister  at  Woolwich,  under  the  protection  of  Mrs. 
Ranger.  As  a  matter  of  course,  they  were  accompanied  by 
no  end  of  trunks,  bandboxes,  and  packages,  for,  as  the 
reader  has  already  been  informed,  large  sums  were  expended 
in  giving  the  young  ladies  a  handsome  equipment  for  their 
new  career.  A  government  vessel  had  been  appointed  to 
convey  them  to  Calais,  —  for  the  power  of  steam  was  not 
in  those  days  applied  to  navigation,  and  the  ordinary 
means  of  reaching  the  Continent  was  by  sailing-packet  or 
hoy  from  Dover. 

We  should  here  pause  for  a  moment  to  observe  that  this 
was  the  epoch  of  Napoleon's  memorable  abdication  of  the 
imperial  dignity  in  France,  and  his  retreat  to  the  little 
sovereignty  of  Elba.  Louis  XVIII  had  been  restored  to 
his  throne,  an  infamous  Bourbon  being  thus  given  back 
to  France;  peace  prevailed  in  Europe,  and  numerous  English 


60  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


tourists  were  taking  advantage  of  the  cessation  of  hostilities 
to  visit  the  Continental  countries. 

The  voyage  from  Woolwich  to  Calais  was  performed  in 
about  thirty  hours,  with  a  calm  sea,  but  a  wind  not  altogether 
favourable.  Mrs.  Ranger  was  so  ill,  notwithstanding  the 
smoothness  of  the  passage,  as  to  be  compelled  to  keep  her 
berth  the  whole  time;  but  during  daylight  the  three  sisters 
remained  upon  the  deck,  conversing  gaily  and  affably  with 
the  officers  belonging  to  the  vessel.  On  arriving  at  Dessin's 
hotel  at  Calais,  the  party  was  compelled  to  make  a  halt 
for  a  couple  of  days  in  order  to  enable  Mrs.  Ranger  to  recruit 
herself  thoroughly  ere  she  entered  upon  the  formidable 
task  of  posting  to  Paris. 

It  was  on  a  Wednesday  afternoon  that  the  Misses  Owen 
and  their  duenna  embarked  at  Woolwich;  it  was  on  the 
Thursday  evening  that  they  reached  Calais,  and  it  was  not 
until  Sunday  morning  that  they  proposed  to  resume  their 
journey.  Now,  if  the  reader  will  refer  to  earlier  chapters, 
he  will  find  that  it  was  on  the  Friday  Jocelyn  Loftus  bade 
adieu  to  Louisa,  with  whom  Mary  Owen  remained,  at 
Canterbury;  and  we  must  add  that  it  was  on  the  Saturday 
that,  having  crossed  in  the  sailing-packet  from  Dover  to 
Calais,  he  also  took  up  his  quarters  at  Dessin's  hotel. 

We  must  remind  our  reader  that  this  amiable,  intelligent, 
and  excellent  young  gentleman,  ere  setting  out  on  his 
chivalrous  enterprise,  had  pledged  himself  to  Mary  Owen 
not  only  to  compromise  her  sisters  as  little  as  might  be  in 
the  task  he  had  undertaken,  but  also  to  use  every  attempt 
to  persuade  them  to  withdraw  from  the  execrable  service 
in  which  they  were  engaged.  It  was  therefore  his  settled 
intention,  on  setting  out  upon  his  journey,  to  overtake  them 
as  speedily  as  possible,  endeavour  to  form  their  acquaintance, 
and  become  their  travelling-companion  if  opportunity 
should  serve.  For  the  further  development  of  his  plans  he 
naturally  trusted  to  circumstances  and  to  the  chapter  of 
accidents;  but  he  was  resolved  to  leave  no  stone  unturned 
in  order  to  rescue  the  Misses  Owen  from  the  abhorrent 
influences  that  now  ruled  their  career,  or,  at  all  events, 
warn  the  Princess  of  Wales  of  the  snakelike  perils  and 
insidious  snares  that  were  scattered  in  her  path. 

On  arriving  at  Dessin's  hotel  late  on  Saturday  evening, 
and  on  making  inquiries  of  the  waiter  as  to  whether  certain 


THE  JOURNEY  TO  PARIS  51 


ladies  had  passed  that  way  within  the  last  day  or  two, 
Jocelyn  was  well  pleased  to  learn  that  they  were  actually  at 
the  moment  beneath  the  same  roof.  He  also  ascertained 
that  they  were  to  leave  in  a  post-chaise  on  the  following 
morning  for  Paris.  He  then  asked  whether  he  also  could  be 
accommodated  with  a  traveUing  chariot  at  about  the  same 
hour ;  but  he  learned  to  his  mortification  that  in  consequence 
of  the  great  influx  of  English  visitors  during  the  week,  every 
disposable  chaise  and  carriage  in  the  town  had  been  put 
into  requisition,  and  that  the  one  kept  for  Mrs.  Ranger  and 
the  Misses  Owen  was  the  very  last  which  could  be  obtained. 
There  was,  however,  the  chance  of  return-carriages  arriving; 
and  the  waiter  confidently  promised  one  for  the  Monday. 

Jocelyn,  however,  assured  him  that  it  was  of  the  highest 
importance  for  him  not  only  to  depart  on  the  following 
morning,  but  also  to  travel  on  to  Paris  without  delay,  and 
hence  his  desire  to  obtain  a  post-chaise  instead  of  proceeding 
by  the  diligence,  or  stage-coach.  The  waiter  looked  at 
the  young  gentleman  very  attentively;  and  suspecting 
that  he  wished  to  become  the  travelling-companion  of  the 
ladies,  he  adroitly  hinted  that  such  was  his  belief.  This 
hint  was  given  with  the  unmistakable  manner  of  one  who 
indirectly  and  covertly  proffers  his  assistance  to  forward 
the  design  into  which  he  penetrates;  and  Jocelyn,  knowing 
the  readiness  of  waiters  in  general,  and  French  ones  in 
particular,  to  perform  such  little  services,  at  once  said  to 
the  man,  Ten  louis  shall  be  your  reward  if  you  can  induce 
those  ladies  of  whom  we  have  been  speaking  to  accommodate 
me  with  a  seat  in  their  post-chaise."  ^ 

The  waiter  spoke  not  a  word,  but  with  a  significant  look 
quitted  the  apartment.  It  was  time  to  serve  the  ladies^ 
supper;  and  as  he  attended  upon  them  at  the  repast,  Mrs. 
Ranger  enjoined  him  to  have  the  chaise  in  readiness  at  nine 
in  the  morning.  He  promised  due  observance  of  her  com- 
mand; and  as  she  spoke  French  with  fluency,  —  as  indeed 
did  Agatha,  Emma,  and  JuUa,  —  she  made  many  inquiries 
about  the  condition  of  the  roads,  the  probable  state  of  the 
weather,  the  best  hotels  to  stop  at,  and  the  chances  of 
travellers  being  assailed  by  robbers.  The  waiter  responded 
to  all  these  queries  satisfactorily  enough,  except  the  last; 
and,  with  a  considerable  amount  of  apparent  hesitation, 
he  observed  that  the  recent  disbanding  of  a  large  number 


52 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


of  the  troops  had  thrown  many  desperate  characters  idle 
upon  the  world,  that  there  were  certainly  cases  of  travellers 
being  stopped,  —  he  was  not  even  sure  but  that  the  outrages 
sometime  occurred  in  the  broad  dayUght,  —  and  that,  at  all 
events,  it  was  much  safer  and  more  prudent  for  ladies  to 
journey  with  a  male  protector. 

These  remarks,  cunningly  dropped,  and  instilling  fear 
rather  by  innuendo  than  positive  averments,  produced 
the  desired  effect  upon  the  ladies.  Mrs.  Ranger  declared 
that  she  would  much  prefer  the  diligence  to  a  post-chaise; 
Agatha  would  not  hear  of  the  stage-coach,  but  regretted 
that  "  mamma  "  had  not  provided  them  with  a  male  attend- 
ant; Emma  sided  with  Mrs.  Ranger  relative  to  the  pro- 
priety of  travelling  by  the  diligence;  and  Julia  at  once 
expressed  a  wish  that  they  were  acquainted  with  some 
gentleman  who  could  accompany  them.  It  was  now  that 
the  waiter,  as  if  struck  by  a  sudden  recollection,  took 
the  liberty  of  observing  that  there  was  an  English  gentleman 
at  that  moment  in  the  hotel,  who  was  most  anxious  to  travel 
post  to  Paris,  but  who  could  not  obtain  a  conveyance;  " 
and  then,  as  if  quite  in  a  style  of  indifferent  comment,  the 
astute  gar  con  continued  to  remark  that  "  the  young  gentle- 
man was  certainly  the  handsomest,  most  agreeable,  and 
most  fascinating  specimen  of  English  travellers  that  had 
visited  the  hotel  since  the  peace." 

All  this  was  quite  enough  to  enlist  the  interest  of  the 
ladies  on  behalf  of  one  who  was  so  much  pressed  for  the 
means  of  rapid  conveyance  to  Paris;  and,  moreover,  they 
•  wanted  a  travelling-companion.  Julia  thought  there  could 
be  no  harm  in  offering  their  fellow  countryman  a  seat  in 
their  chaise;  Emma  expressed  her  opinion  that  it  would  be 
rude  not  to  do  so;  and  Agatha  still  more  emphatically 
insisted  upon  the  propriety  of  asking  him  to  join  their 
party.  Mrs.  Ranger,  said,  in  a  bland  tone,  that  she  saw 
no  objection,  provided  he  was  a  real  gentleman;  and  the 
waiter's  guarantee  being  taken  in  this  respect,  the  said 
waiter  was  duly  and  formally  charged  to  conduct  the 
negotiation. 

Accordingly,  this  important  plenipotentiary,  doubtless 
fancying  himself  no  mean  imitation  of  the  astute  diplomatist 
Talleyrand,  returned  to  Jocelyn's  sitting-room;  and  the 
moment  he  made  his  appearance,  his  looks  proclaimed  the 


THE  JOURNEY  TO  PARIS  53 


success  of  his  enterprise.  Loftus  was  well  pleased  thereat, 
and  cheerfully  paid  the  promised  fee  of  ten  louis,  which  the 
waiter  still  more  joyfully  consigned  to  his  pocket. 

Jocelyn  then  retired  to  his  bedchamber,  and  soon  fell 
asleep,  to  dream  of  his  beloved  and  lovely  Louisa;  while, 
on  the  other  hand,  Mrs.  Ranger  and  her  three  fair  charges 
sought  their  own  apartments,  well  pleased  with  the  prospect 
of  an  agreeable  travelling-companion  during  their  journey 
to  Paris. 

On  the  following  morning  Mr.  Loftus  received  an  invita- 
tion to  breakfast  with  the  ladies;  and  he  was  forthwith 
conducted  to  the  room  in  which  they  were  assembled.  At 
the  first  glance  which  he  threw  upon  Agatha,  Emma,  and 
Julia,  the  sentiment  of  mingled  pity  and  indignation  was 
deepened  in  his  soul  to  think  that  such  beautiful  creatures 
should  have  become  entangled  in  such  detestable  intrigues. 
He  was,  however,  far  from  suspecting  that  beneath  the  air 
of  lively,  good-tempered  artlessness  which  was  natural  to 
them,  and  which  corrupting  influences  had  not  as  yet 
materially  impaired,  there  lurked  all  the  nascent  tendencies 
and  inchnations  toward  that  thorough  depravity  which 
the  denizens  of  fashionable  life  are  so  skilled  in  veiling  with 
smiles,  affability,  and  the  glitter  of  fascinating  manners,  — 
as  the  hideousness  of  a  corpse  may  be  concealed  with  flowers. 
He  believed  them  to  be  the  unconscious  and  beguiled  victims, 
rather  than  the  now  willing  instruments,  of  the  vilest 
machinations;  and  little  suspecting  that  even  their  very 
maiden  virtue  and  personal  chastity  had  been  sacrificed 
in  the  course  of  execrable  training  which  they  had  under- 
gone, he  hoped  to  rescue  them  from  the  ways  of  intrigue 
and  dishonour,  and  render  them  worthy,  as  they  were 
certainly  brilliant,  members  of  society. 

Such  were  the  thoughts  which  swept  through  the  mind 
of  Jocelyn  Loftus  on  his  introduction  to  the  Misses  Owen; 
but  as  for  Mrs.  Ranger,  he  experienced  a  thorough  and 
unmitigated  contempt  for  her  ere  he  had  been  three  minutes 
in  her  society.  Not  that  he  at  once  saw  into  the  depths 
of  her  character;  but  he  read  enough,  through  the  veil  of 
plausibility  wherewith  she  invested  her  words  and  her 
manners,  to  assure  himself  that  she  was  false,  hollow- 
hearted,  vain,  and  cunning.  This  feeling  of  dislike  he 
however  studiously  concealed;  for  it  by  no  means  suited 


54  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


his  purpose  to  make  an  enemy  of  that  lady  at  the  very 
outset  of  their  acquaintance. 

The  impression  which  his  own  appearance  produced 
upon  the  ladies  was  at  once  of  the  most  favourable  character. 
His  exceedingly  handsome  person,  endowed  with  all  the 
beauty  and  graces  of  youthful  manhood,  his  elegant  man- 
ners, the  tones  of  his  voice,  and  the  unaffected  yet  fascinating 
style  of  his  conversation  and  choice  of  language,  could  not 
fail  to  prove  agreeable  to  an  old  coquette  and  three  lively, 
animated,  and  impassioned  girls.  He  was  accordingly 
received  with  an  evident  welcome,  whose  warmth  was  only 
subdued  by  that  habit  of  external  formality  which  was 
rather  practised  from  the  ceremonial  usages  of  drawing- 
rooms  than  really  felt  in  all  its  rigid  reserve. 

The  conversation  at  the  breakfast-table  was  sprightly 
and  sparkling;  but  the  meal  was  somewhat  hurried,  as  the 
chaise  was  announced  to  be  in  readiness  even  before  the 
party  sat  down.  Then  came  the  hurry  and  bustle  of  the 
preliminaries  for  departure;  but  as  Jocelyn  attended  to 
the  disposal  of  the  luggage,  a  world  of  trouble,  as  Mrs. 
Ranger  observed  to  the  girls,  was  fortunately  taken  off 
their  hands. 

French  travelling-carriages,  or  berlines,  are  spacious  and 
commodious  vehicles,  containing  six  persons  inside  without 
the  necessity  of  much  crowding.  There  was  consequently 
ample  room  for  the  whole  party.  Mrs.  Ranger  and  Julia 
occupied  the  back  seat;  Jocelyn  was  placed  between  the 
two  elder  girls  on  the  front  one.  He  had  Agatha  on  his 
right  hand,  and  Emma  on  his  left;  but  though  in  such 
charming  contact,  his  heart  wavered  not  in  its  allegiance 
to  the  loved  and  absent  Louisa,  and  he  felt  that  it  never 
would.  Much  rather  would  he  have  been  at  this  moment 
with  his  betrothed;  but  he  had  undertaken  a  certain  duty, 
and  his  present  position  was  only  one  of  the  inevitable 
phases  of  that  enterprise  in  which  he  had  so  generously  and 
chivalrously  embarked. 

The  equipage  rolled  out  of  the  courtyard  of  Dessin's 
hotel,  the  drawbridge  of  the  ramparts  was  crossed,  and  the 
vehicle,  drawn  by  four  horses  with  two  postilions,  entered 
on  the  broad  road  leading  to  Boulogne.  Mrs.  Ranger  now 
thought  it  high  time  to  let  Jocelyn  know  that  her  three  fair 
charges  were  proceeding  to  Italy  in  order  to  enter  the  service 


THE  JOURNEY   TO  PARIS  55 


of  the  Princess  of  Wales;  whereupon  the  young  gentle- 
man observed  that  he  also  was  bound  on  a  visit  to  the 
same  sunny  cUme,  giving  his  hearers  to  understand  that 
his  was  a  tour  of  recreation  and  pleasure,  although  in  the 
first  instance  he  had  some  important  business  to  transact  in 
Paris. 

The  eyes  of  the  young  ladies  shone  with  unmistakable 
joy  when  they  thus  heard  that  their  new  acquaintance  was 
proceeding  all  the  way  to  Italy;  and  Mrs.  Ranger  inquired 
how  long  he  purposed  to  remain  in  the  French  capital.  He 
answered  that  a  couple  of  days  would  suffice  for  the  business 
which  he  had  to  conclude  in  that  city;  whereupon  Agatha 
remarked  how  singular  it  was  that  they  also  intended  to 
limit  their  halt  in  Paris  to  an  equally  brief  period.  The 
observation  was  too  significant  not  to  be  seized  upon  as 
available  for  Jocelyn's  purpose;  and  he  expressed  a  hope  that 
he  might  be  permitted  the  honour  of  escorting  the  ladies 
as  far  as  their  destination  in  Italy.  The  proposition  was 
received  with  many  expressions  of  gratitude  and  much 
evident  delight;  but  Jocelyn  was  somewhat  surprised,  as 
well  as  secretly  vexed  and  annoyed,  when  he  observed  that 
Agatha,  the  eldest  sister,  gazed  upon  him  with  a  certain 
subdued  tenderness  as  she  breathed  her  thanks  for  the 
proposal  he  had  just  made. 

He  could  not  even  help  looking  earnestly  at  her  for  a 
moment  in  order  to  assure  himself  that  he  had  rightly  inter- 
preted the  meaning  of  her  gaze ;  but  as  her  eyes  fell  beneath 
his  own,  and  a  fleeting  blush  appeared  upon  her  cheeks,  he 
fancied  that  he  must  have  been  deceived,  and  regretted 
having  thus  regarded  her  in  a  manner  which  she  might 
consider  as  savouring  of  rudeness  or  impertinence.  But 
as  the  conversation  turned  upon  different  topics,  it  became 
clearly  apparent  that  she  had  taken  no  offence;  for  she 
treated  Jocelyn  with  a  friendly  but  well-bred  courtesy,  as 
much  as  to  imply  that  since  it  was  agreed  they  were  to  be 
travelling-companions  on  a  very  long  journey,  there  was 
no  necessity  to  regard  each  other  as  the  mere  acquaintances 
of  a  few  hours.  At  least,  such  was  the  interpretation  which 
the  young  gentleman  now  put  upon  her  demeanour,  as  well 
as  on  the  bearing  of  her  two  sisters  and  Mrs.  Ranger;  and 
as  it  was  his  object  to  gain  the  good  opinion  and  the  con- 
fidence of  the  three  girls  as  speedily  as  was  practicable 


56  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


under  the  circumstances,  he  of  course  encouraged  all  their 
friendly  advances. 

Thus  by  the  time  the  party  reached  Boulogne  to  lunch, 
the  ladies  were  already  on  very  good  terms  with  their  hand- 
some traveUing-companion;  and  when  they  stopped  in 
the  evening  to  dine  at  Bernay,  it  would  have  seemed  as  if 
they  had  been  acquainted  for  a  whole  year  instead  of  a 
single  day.  Indeed  Jocelyn  was  more  than  once  inwardly 
and  secretly  vexed  at  the  somewhat  meaning  looks  of 
tenderness  which  Agatha  cast  upon  him;  but  as  those 
sidelong  and  furtive  glances  were  instantaneously  with- 
drawn when  she  saw  that  they  were  noticed,  he  tranquillized 
himself  with  the  hope  that  any  feeling  which  the  young  lady 
might  have  so  suddenly  conceived  toward  him  would  not 
be  conveyed  by  a  more  marked  demonstration. 

After  dinner  the  journey  was  resumed  toward  Abbeville, 
where  it  was  proposed  to  rest  for  the  night.  The  sun  sank 
into  its  western  home,  and  obscurity  veiled  the  road  which 
our  travellers  were  pursuing.  Mrs.  Ranger  got  nervous 
about  robbers,  upon  the  chances  of  an  attack  from  whom 
she  would  nevertheless  persist  in  talking,  while  JuUa, 
already  much  wearied,  dozed  by  her  side.  Jocelyn  sus- 
tained the  conversation  with  the  old  lady  and  Emma;  but 
Agatha  had  gradually  ceased  to  take  part  in  the  discourse, 
and  soon  became  altogether  silent. 

It  was  very  dark  inside  the  vehicle,  and  Jocelyn  soon 
experienced  a  new  cause  for  annoyance.  For  while  he  was 
endeavouring  to  reason  Mrs.  Ranger  out  of  her  fears,  which, 
whether  affected  or  not,  seemed  to  be  augmenting,  he 
felt  Agatha's  head  gently  droop  upon  his  shoulder.  It  was 
true  that  she  had  on  a  plain  travelHng-bonnet,  so  that  the 
silk  material  alone  came  in  contact  with  him;  but  still  his 
extreme  sense  of  propriety  made  him  shrink  from  anything 
that  appeared  to  approach  an  undue  familiarity.  He 
nevertheless  fancied  that  she  must  have  fallen  asleep,  and 
therefore  had  unconsciously  lain  her  head  upon  his  shoulder; 
and  as  the  circumstances  of  travelling  may  in  such  cases 
somewhat  mitigate  the  strict  observances  to  be  followed  on 
ordinary  occasions,  he  made  due  allowances  for  the  present 
little  incident  and  offered  not  to  disturb  his  fair  companion. 

But  in  a  few  minutes  he  felt  her  head  gradually  moving; 
then  it  became  still  again,  and  then  she  suddenly  but  noise- 


THE  JOURNEY  TO  PARIS  57 


lessly  turned  in  such  a  way  that  her  cheek  rested  against 
his  own.  He  started,  but  not  enough  to  compel  her  to  shift 
her  position;  and  then  astonished  that  she  did  not,  he 
gently  drew  back,  so  that  while  his  face  no  longer  touched 
her  own,  her  head  nevertheless  remained  upon  his  shoulder. 
Mrs.  Ranger  ceased  talking  at  the  moment,  and  he  Ustened 
attentively  to  ascertain  whether  Agatha  was  sleeping  or  not. 
But  her  breath  came  not  as  from  the  lips  of  a  sleeper;  and 
shocked  at  an  occurrence  which  he  was  now  forced  to  regard 
as  a  deliberate,  intended,  and  most  indiscreet  proceeding,  if 
not  a  positive  overture,  on  her  part,  he  drew  still  farther 
aside.  Agatha  thereupon  abruptly  raised  her  head,  and 
gave  vent  to  an  ejaculation  as  if  just  awaking  from  a  doze. 

Jocelyn  was  now  again  bewildered,  and  in  deep  perplexity 
what  to  think.  After  all,  she  might  have  really  been  sleep- 
ing, though  he  fancied  she  was  not;  and,  prompted  by  his 
generous  nature  to  put  the  most  charitable  construction 
upon  the  deeds  of  his  fellow  creatures,  —  unwilling,  more- 
over, to  be  precipitate  or  rash  in  attributing  aught  savour- 
ing of  gross  indehcacy  to  a  young  and  gay-hearted  girl,  — 
he  brought  his  mind  to  settle  the  point  in  her  favour. 
Still,  when  he  reflected  upon  all  that  Mary  Owen  had  told 
him,  his  misgivings  were  again  aroused;  and  the  painful 
conviction  was  forced  upon  him  that  the  training  to  which 
the  unfortunate  sisters  had  been  subjected  by  their  un- 
natural mother  was  indeed  sufficient  to  destroy  all  their 
moral  principles,  even  if  its  effect  had  not  as  yet  been  to 
ruin  their  chastity. 

But  while  Jocelyn  was  thus  painfully  giving  way  to  his 
meditations,  and  almost  regretting  that  he  had  joined  the 
company  of  the  ladies,  he  soon  became  sensible  of  another 
source  of  vexation.  For  be  it  observed  that,  in  consequence 
of  occupying  a  place  in  the  carriage  between  Agatha  and 
Emma,  while  he  was  withdrawing  himself  from  the  contact 
of  the  former  he  was  unconsciously  pressing  against  the 
latter.  Then,  as  he  drew  more  and  more  away  from  the 
eldest  sister  in  the  manner  already  described,  his  pressure 
against  Emma  became  all  the  closer.  This  circumstance 
he  did  not  immediately  perceive  in  the  confusion  of  his 
ideas;  but  to  Emma  that  pressure  appeared  full  of  a  tender 
meaning.  She  felt  his  form  coming  in  nearer  contact  with 
her  own,  and  a  thrill  of  pleasure  shot  through  her  entire 


58  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


frame.  But  still  she  stayed  perfectly  still,  in  a  tantalizing 
uncertainty  as  to  whether  the  occurrence  were  accidental 
or  not.  In  a  few  moments  the  pressure  against  her  grew 
more  apparently  decisive,  and  the  wanton  blood  now 
coursed  like  lightning  through  Emma's  veins.  Jocelyn's 
left  arm  pressed  against  her  bosom,  which  heaved  and  swelled 
to  a  contact  which  she  believed  was  intentional;  and  with 
a  voluptuous  ardour  she  pressed  against  him  in  return.  At 
that  instant  was  it  that  Agatha  raised  her  head  and  gave 
vent  to  an  ejaculation  as  if  she  were  starting  from  a  doze, 
and  then  the  pressure  between  Jocelyn  and  Emma  suddenly 
ceased. 

But  still  the  impression  remained  in  Emma's  mind  that 
the  occurrence  which  had  just  taken  place  was  deliberate 
and  intentional  on  Jocelyn's  part,  and  she  waited  a  few 
minutes  in  the  anxious  hope  that  the  presumed  demonstra- 
tion of  tenderness  would  be  continued.  It  was  not,  however, 
for  Agatha  was  now  lounging  back  in  her  own  corner,  and 
Loftus  was  no  longer  inconvenienced  for  room.  Emma 
therefore  gently  and  gradually  pressed  toward  him,  now 
pausing  for  the  tacit  response  so  anxiously  awaited,  then 
pressing  closer  still,  until  the  contours  of  her  well-developed 
bust  heaved  amorously  against  his  arm.  All  in  a  moment 
the  truth  flashed  to  Jocelyn's  mind,  once  more  he  started 
abruptly,  and  the  second  temptress  as  abruptly  shrank 
back  into  her  own  corner,  complaining  of  the  ruggedness  of 
the  road  and  the  jolting  of  the  carriage. 

Almost  immediately  afterward  the  vehicle  entered  Abbe- 
ville; and  in  the  bustle  occasioned  by  the  examination  of 
the  passports  at  the  town  gates,  the  arrival  at  the  hotel,  the 
handing  the  ladies  out  of  the  carriage,  the  duty  of  looking 
after  their  luggage  and  his  own,  and  then  the  task  of  giving 
orders  to  the  waiters,  etc.,  in  the  excitement  of  these  manifold 
proceedings,  we  say,  Jocelyn  for  the  time  lost  sight  of  the 
previous  topic  of  his  unpleasant  meditations. 

Almost  immediately  after  their  arrival  at  the  inn,  the 
ladies  withdrew  to  the  chambers  prepared  for  them,  and 
Loftus  was  equally  ready  to  seek  repose.  Before  he,  however, 
fell  asleep,  the  behaviour  of  the  two  eldest  Misses  Owen 
recurred  to  his  memory;  and  it  was  while  still  perplexing 
himself  with  arguments  for  and  against  a  deliberate  intention 
on  their  part  that  slumber  visited  his  eyes. 


THE  JOURNEY  TO  PARIS  59 


When  the  travellers  were  reunited  in  the  morning  at  the 
breakfast-table,  neither  Agatha  nor  Emma  appeared  in 
any  way  confused  on  meeting  his  looks,  nor  was  their 
behaviour  at  all  changed  toward  him,  unless  indeed  it  were 
that  their  tone  and  manner  increased  in  friendliness.  But 
there  was  no  evidence  of  humiliated  feeling  on  their  part, 
as  if  they  were  conscious  of  having  made  overtures  which 
were  met  with  a  tacit  rebuke. 

The  journey  was  resumed,  Mrs.  Ranger  and  the  youngest 
girl  occupying  the  same  seat  as  before,  and  Jocelyn  being 
again  placed  between  the  two  eldest  sisters,  with  their 
backs  to  the  horses.  The  young  gentleman  now  endeavoured 
to  turn  the  conversation  upon  the  Princess  of  Wales,  observ- 
ing how  harshly  she  had  been  treated  by  her  royal  husband, 
the  prince  regent,  and  regretting,  if  it  were  only  for  the  sake 
of  their  child,  the  Princess  Charlotte,  that  they  did  not 
effect  a  reconciliation  and  live  together.  But  he  found  the 
three  sisters  very  guarded  in  their  replies  and  still  more 
sparing  in  their  comments,  while  Mrs.  Ranger,  who  had 
passed  a  bad  night,  dozed  in  her  corner  of  the  carriage.  At 
length  Agatha,  with  an  appearance  of  natural  liveliness 
and  versatility  of  disposition,  exclaimed,  Let  us  talk  of 
something  else,  for  this  is  an  old  and  hackneyed  topic 
amongst  us,"  and  Loftus  was  accordingly  compelled  to 
turn  the  discourse  into  another  channel. 

He  found  the  three  sisters  well  informed,  accomplished, 
and  intelHgent;  their  good-humour  was  patent  beyond 
the  possibility  of  affectation;  they  did  not  indulge  in  scandal, 
nor  frivolous  disquisitions  on  dress,  nor  were  they  at  all 
vain  of  the  intimacy  which  they  had  enjoyed  with  the  royal 
princes.  They  possessed  many  excellent  qualities,  it  was 
clear;  but  how  far  their  morals  had  been  depraved  and 
their  principles  undermined,  Jocelyn  trembled  to  conjecture. 
When,  however,  he  thought  of  the  admirable  purposes  to 
which  their  minds  and  their  dispositions  might  have  been 
trained  under  proper  tutelage,  and  when  he  reflected  that 
whatever  might  be  their  failings  and  faults,  these  poor  girls 
could  scarcely  be  held  responsible  for  them,  his  heart  was 
moved  to  the  deepest  commiseration,  and  he  felt  that  it 
would  be  a  glorious  triumph  to  resc-ue  them  from  the  evil 
influences  that  were  hurrying  them  on  to  destruction. 

The  party  stopped  to  dine  at  Beauvais  in  the  afternoon, 


60  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


and  in  the  evening  at  Beaumont,  to  take  an  early  supper. 
The  journey  was  then  speedily  continued;  and  once  more 
did  the  shades  of  night  envelop  the  landscape  in  obscurity, 
and  plunge  the  interior  of  the  carriage  into  almost  utter 
darkness.  Jocelyn  actually  drew  himself  into  as  small  a 
compass  as  possible,  so  as  not  to  encroach  in  the  slightest 
degree  upon  the  space  allotted  to  his  fair  companions  on  the 
same  seat;  but  he  soon  became  aware  of  certain  little  tacit 
overtures  from  either  side,  —  a  pressure  of  the  knee  against 
his  own,  or  the  heaving  of  a  bosom  against  his  shoulder. 
He  felt  that  his  position  was  alike  false  and  ridiculous; 
and  he  became  dispirited  and  even  gloomy.  He  was  sur- 
rounded by  temptations  which  he  had  ample  strength  of 
mind  and  rectitude  of  principle  to  resist;  and  yet  he  had 
embarked  in  an  enterprise  which  compelled  him  to  remain 
in  this  very  position  and  subject  to  these  temptations. 
That  the  little  overtures,  sly,  artful,  and  tacit  as  they  were, 
were  intentional  and  dehberate,  he  could  no  longer  doubt; 
and  it  became  a  question  whether  he  was  not  compromising 
himself  too  far,  and  entering  upon  the  verge  of  outrage 
against  the  pure  love  which  he  felt  for  Louisa  Stanley,  by 
remaining  any  longer  in  the  company  of  these  sirens  whose 
temperaments  were  evidently  so  warm  and  whose  morals 
were  becoming  every  instant  more  open  to  the  gravest 
suspicion. 

Finding  that  they  received  no  encouragement  from  the 
young  gentleman,  Agatha  and  Emma  presently  desisted 
from  their  tacit  approaches  and  silent  demonstrations  of 
tenderness  toward  him.  The  discourse  grew  languid,  and 
soon  dropped  altogether,  every  one,  save  Jocelyn,  falling  off 
into  a  doze.  But  he  himself  continued  to  meditate  upon  the 
perplexing  situation  in  which  he  was  placed;  and  there 
were  but  two  alternatives  for  him  to  choose  between.  He 
must  either  withdraw  himself  from  the  company  of  the 
siren  sisters,  and  thus  break  the  promise  he  had  pledged  to 
Mary  that  he  would  endeavour  to  rescue  them  from  their 
present  career;  or  he  must  remain  with  them,  even  at  the 
risk  of  encountering  overtures  which  pained,  insulted,  and 
shocked  him.  In  the  former  case,  he  would  have  nothing 
more  to  do  than  hasten  on  to  Italy  and  give  the  necessary 
warning  to  the  princess,  leaving  the  three  sisters  to  fulfil 
their  ignoble  destiny;  in  the  latter  case,  he  might  perhaps 


THE  JOURNEY  TO  PARIS  61 


find  speedy  opportunities  of  conversing  with  each  one  alone 
and  separately,  and  thence  judge  whether  the  work  of 
reform  were  really  practicable  in  reference  to  them,  or 
whether  they  were  trammelled  and  ensnared  by  circum- 
stances and  influences  beyond  all  hope  of  redemption. 

Jocelyn  decided  upon  the  adoption  of  the  latter  alternative 
of  the  two  which  we  have  named;  at  all  events,  he  deter- 
mined to  see  what  results  the  couple  of  days'  sojourn  together 
in  Paris  would  produce. 

It  was  eleven  o'clock  when  the  post-chaise  entered  the 
French  capital,  and  it  proceeded  straight  to  Meurice's 
Hotel,  which  was  in  those  times  situated  in  the  Rue  St. 
Honore.  Wearied  and  exhausted  with  the  long  journey 
of  two  days,  Mrs.  Ranger  and  the  three  sisters  lost  no  time 
in  seeking  repose;  but  ere  Jocelyn  retired  to  rest,  he  sat 
down  and  penned  a  long  letter  to  his  well-beloved  Louisa, 
for  he  felt  a  profound  longing  thus  to  commune  with  the  dear 
one,  by  committing  to  paper  all  the  tender  things  and  fond 
assurances  which  he  would  have  breathed  in  her  ears  had 
they  been  together. 


CHAPTER  VI 


FASHIONABLE  DEPRAVITY 

Mrs.  Ranger  and  Julia  occupied  the  same  sleeping- 
apartment  at  the  Hotel  Meurice,  while  Agatha  and  Emma 
shared  another. 

The  chambermaid  had  been  ordered  to  rouse  them  at 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning;  and  accordingly,  if  we  peep 
about  half  an  hour  later  into  the  chamber  tenanted  by  the 
two  eldest  sisters,  we  shall  find  them  in  the  midst  of  the 
avocations  of  the  toilet. 

"  Now  what  think  you  of  our  handsome  travelling- 
companion,  Mr.  Jocelyn  Loftus?  "  inquired  Agatha,  as  she 
combed  out  her  long  brown  hair  before  the  immense 
mirror  in  which  her  whole  person  was  reflected,  as  she 
stood  with  naked  shoulders  and  bare  bosom  in  an 
attitude  of  indescribable  voluptuousness  and  unstudied 
grace. 

"  I  think  that  he  is  the  handsomest  young  man  I  ever 
beheld  in  all  my  life,"  answered  Emma,  who  was  lacing 
on  her  corset  in  front  of  another  mirror  which  reproduced 
with  equal  fidelity  all  the  rich  contours  and  fine  proportions 
of  her  own  softly  sensuous  form. 

But  what  else  do  you  think  of  him,  Emma?  "  inquired 
her  eldest  sister. 

I  scarcely  know  how  to  answer  you,"  was  the  response. 
"  Should  you  like  to  have  him  as  a  lover?  " 
"  Yes,  but  not  as  a  husband." 

And  wherefore  not  as  a  husband?  "  inquired  Agatha. 
"  Because  I  think  he  is  too  particular.    He  seems  a  very 
moral  young  man,"  returned  Emma,  laughing. 

"  Ah!  have  you  been  tempting  him,  then,  you  wicked 
girl?  "  asked  Agatha,  also  smiling  roguishly. 

62 


FASHIONABLE  DEPRAVITY  63 


"  Have  you?  "  demanded  Emma.  "  Come,  let  us  confess. 
You  and  I  have  no  secrets  from  each  other." 

"  I  hope  not,"  observed  Agatha.  Well,  I  am  bound  to 
admit  that  the  contact  of  his  handsome  person  did  some- 
what confuse  and  bewilder  my  ideas  and  excite  my  passions 
—  and  —  and  —  I  suffered  him  to  perceive  that  he  was 
not  displeasing  to  me.  In  plain  terms,  I  laid  my  head  upon 
his  shoulder,  —  this  was  in  the  evening  of  the  first  day's 
journey." 

And  did  he  reward  you  with  a  soft  and  noiseless  kiss?  " 
asked  Emma,  her  bosom  heaving  visibly  in  the  mirror  where 
it  was  reflected,  and  the  soft  flush  of  desire  tingeing  her 
cheeks. 

On  the-  contrary,  he  seemed  either  not  to  understand 
my  meaning  or  else  to  be  indifferent,"  answered  Agatha. 

Nay,  I  am  not  quite  sure  that  he  did  not  positively  repulse 
me,  but  very  gently,  and  rather  by  withdrawing  himself 
from  me  than  by  pushing  me  from  him." 

Oh,  he  withdrew,  did  he?  "  exclaimed  Emma,  a  light 
breaking  in  upon  her  mind.  "  Then  did  I  fall  into  a  most 
egregious  error,  for  as  he  retreated  from  you  he  pressed 
against  me,  and  I  fancied  that  the  pressure  was  intentional." 

"  And  you  returned  it?  "  said  Agatha,  in  a  voice  full  of 
deep  sensuousness,  for  the  bare  idea  of  these  amorous  over- 
tures heated  her  blood  and  inflamed  her  imagination,  so  that 
the  carnation  deepened  upon  her  cheeks,  her  hazel  eyes 
swam  in  liquid  languor,  and  her  fine  bust  swelled  and  sank 
like  the  undulating  motion  of  the  sea. 

"  I  returned  that  pressure,  —  in  fact,  I  gave  Jocelyn 
Loftus  to  understand  precisely  what  you  did,"  said  Emma, 
in  response  to  her  sister's  question.  ''I  let  him  know  as 
plainly  as  I  dared  that  if  he  were  bold  and  venturous,  I 
should  not  prove  timid  nor  cruel." 

"  And  the  result?  "  exclaimed  Agatha,  hastily. 

"  The  same  as  in  your  case,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Last  evening,  in  the  carriage,  I  renewed  my  little  arti- 
fices," observed  Agatha,  "  and  with  an  equal  futility.  When 
we  descended  from  the  carriage  and  entered  the  room  where 
the  lights  were  blazing,  I  scarcely  dared  look  him  in  the 
face;  but  I  was  resolved  not  to  seem  humiliated." 

"  That  was  precisely  the  feeUng  which  I  experienced," 
exclaimed  Emma.    "  But  do  you  think  that  Jocelyn  is  a 


64  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


perfect  anchorite,  or  that  he  rejects  our  overtures  because 
he  is  smitten  with  Juha?  " 

I  scarcely  know  what  to  think,"  responded  Agatha. 
"  But  I  do  not  fancy  that  he  is  inchned  to  pay  any  particular 
attention  to  Julia;  and  as  for  a  young  man  of  two  or  three 
and  twenty  years  being  an  anchorite,  is  not  the  most  probable 
theory  to  fall  back  upon.  He  may  possess  very  lofty  notions 
of  honour." 

"  He  evidently  does  possess  them,"  observed  Emma. 

"  And  is  therefore  loath  to  engage  in  an  intrigue  with 
young  ladies  who  are  to  a  certain  extent  under  his  protec- 
tion," added  the  eldest  sister. 

Very  Hkely.  Or  else  he  is  afraid  of  that  old  harridan 
Ranger,"  suggested  Emma. 

"  Far  from  it,"  exclaimed  Agatha.  "  He  experiences  for 
her  the  most  sovereign  contempt,  although  he  endeavours 
to  conceal  it.  But  I  have  marked  the  curl  of  his  beautifully 
chiselled  lip  —  oh,  what  classic  lips!  " 

"  And  such  a  faultless  Grecian  face,  with  that  clear,  rich 
brown  complexion,"  observed  Emma.  "  His  hair,  too,  is 
magnificent,  dark  as  jet  and  as  glossy  as  a  woman's.  Then 
his  teeth  —  yours  and  mine  are  not  whiter  nor  more  even." 

And  that  is  paying  ourselves  a  compliment  at  the  same 
time,"  said  Agatha,  laughing  so  as  to  display  the  rows  of 
pearl  which  shone  between  her  red  and  juicy  lips.  "  But 
did  you  ever  behold  such  splendid  eyes  as  Jocelyn's?  Ah! 
when  I  think  of  that  fat,  puffy,  bloated  prince,  and  then 
fix  my  thoughts  upon  Jocelyn,  it  seems  as  if  I  had  submitted 
to  the  pawings  of  a  great  imp  and  now  vainly  sigh  for  the 
embraces  of  an  Apollo." 

"  Nor  can  I  reflect  lovingly  upon  the  Duke  of  York's 
image,"  said  Emma,  "  when  that  of  Jocelyn  is  uppermost 
in  my  mind.  I  wonder  whether  Julia  is  smitten  by  him, 
and  whether  she  thinks  of  her  Duke  of  Cumberland  in  con- 
trast with  our  handsome  fellow  traveller.  And  yet,"  ex- 
claimed Emma,  suddenly  laughing  gaily  and  turning  toward 
Agatha,  it  is  not  every  trio  of  sisters  who  have  had  three 
princes  as  their  lovers  —  " 

"  And  paramours,"  added  the  eldest  girl;  then,  with  a  sub- 
dued sigh,  she  observed,  in  a  tone  that  altered  strangely  all 
in  a  moment,  Do  you  know,  Emma,  I  am  very  much 
afraid  —  " 


FASHIONABLE  DEPRAVITY  65 


"  Oh,  I  can  guess  what  you  are  about  to  say,"  exclaimed 
Emma,  with  a  subdued  shriek  and  look  of  dismay.  Heav- 
ens! is  it  possible?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  so,"  repUed  Agatha,  mournfully.  But 
do  not  speak  so  loud,  do  not  give  vent  to  ejaculations; 
we  may  be  overheard.  And  when  I  think  of  it,  don't  mention 
it  to  JuUa;  for  should  my  fears  prove  correct,  the  fewer 
confidants  the  better." 

How  in  the  name  of  Heaven  will  you  manage,  my  dear 
girl?  "  inquired  Emma,  still  contemplating  her  sister  with 
mingled  anguish  and  dismay. 

Oh,  if  it  be  really  the  case  I  can  conceal  the  fact  for  a 
long  time  to  come,"  answered  Agatha;  "  and  then  I  must 
trust  to  circumstances  to  point  out  the  means  of  avoiding 
eventual  discovery.  It  is  not  so  difficult  on  the  Continent  as 
it  is  in  England  to  manage  these  matters;  mid  wives  are 
more  accomphshed  in  France  and  Italy  —  and  also  more 
knowing  and  less  scrupulous,"  she  added,  with  a  significant 
look. 

"  I  understand  you,"  observed  Emma.   "  But  —  " 

"  Do  not  let  us  talk  any  more  about  it  now,  my  love," 
said  Agatha,  suddenly  brightening  up.  If  the  worst  comes 
to  the  worst,  the  prince  regent  must  support  his  child,  — 
for  his  it  assuredly  will  be.  You  know,  Emma,  that  I  have 
never  as  yet  yielded  to  the  embrace  of  any  other." 

"  And  the  prince  must  know  it  Ukewise,"  was  the  response. 
"  For  my  part,  I  should  be  fearfully  shocked  and  alarmed  if 
I  thought  that  my  amour  with  the  Duke  of  York  was  likely 
to  bring  me  into  disgrace." 

"  And  yet  you  are  ready  to  plunge  headlong  into  an 
amour  with  Jocelyn  Loftus,"  exclaimed  Agatha,  laughing, 
for  the  natural  gaiety  of  her  disposition  soon  returned. 

"  Ah!  but  he  is  so  very  handsome!  "  murmured  Emma, 
with  a  deep  sigh  of  mingled  pleasure  and  ardent  longing. 
"  It  is,  however,  quite  clear  that  we  cannot  both  win  him 
to  our  arms,  —  to  one  only  must  the  triumph  and  the  happi- 
ness belong." 

"  Let  me  have  a  fair  opportunity  of  plying  him  with  the 
artillery  of  my  fascinations,"  said  Agatha;  "  and  if  I  dis- 
cover that  his  heart  is  proof,  I  will  abandon  him  to  your 
seductive  wiles." 

"  Agreed!  "  exclaimed  Emma.    "  And  after  all,  even 


66  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


supposing  that  you  should  be  in  the  way  to  become  a  mother, 
it  is  much  better  to  make  up  one's  mind  to  lead  a  Hfe  of 
pleasure  and  gaiety,  especially  as  we  cannot  hope  to  make 
very  excellent  marriages;  for  our  reputation  has  been 
assuredly  damaged  by  our  intimacy  with  the  princes." 

And  therefore/'  added  the  eldest  sister,  with  the  coolness 
of  settled  depravity,  ''if  we  have  the  character  of  being  no 
better  than  we  should  be,  let  us  also  have  the  enjoyment." 

"  Upon  that  point,  Agatha,"  observed  Emma,  "  you  and 
I  have  already  agreed;  otherwise  we  should  not  be  dis- 
coursing so  confidentially,  so  unreservedly,  and  so  frankly 
as  we  are  doing  now.  But  to  return  to  the  handsome 
Jocelyn,  what  opportunity  do  you  require,  and  how  can 
I  succour  you?  " 

''  Contrive  to  get  Mrs.  Ranger  and  Julia  to  accompany  you 
shopping  this  afternoon,  if  possible,"  replied  Agatha;  "  and 
I  will  remain  indoors  with  Jocelyn.  He  will  not  offer  to 
escort  you  if  you  expressly  say  you  are  going  out  shopping." 

"  Leave  it  to  me,"  said  Emma.  "  I  suppose  that  after 
breakfast  we  shall  all  sally  forth  in  company  to  see  the 
lions;  then  we  shall  return  to  luncheon." 

"  And  afterward  I  shall  feel  too  tired  to  go  out  again 
before  dinner,"  observed  Agatha.  "  As  for  Mrs.  Ranger, 
I  am  very  certain  that  instead  of  standing  in  the  way  of  an 
intrigue,  she  would  wink  at  it,  —  especially  if  a  few  guineas 
were  shpped  into  her  hands.  Oh,  I  have  fathomed  that 
woman's  character  far  more  deeply  than  our  mother  has 
done." 

"  But  mamma  is  very  credulous  in  some  things,"  ob- 
served Emma,  ''  although  so  very  astute  and  cunning  in 
others.  The  idea  of  throwing  us  constantly  in  the  way  of 
the  princes,  and  expecting  that  we  should  pass  with  impunity 
through  the  fiery  furnace." 

"  It  was  most  preposterous,"  exclaimed  Agatha.  "  But 
here  is  Julia." 

What!  not  dressed  yet?  "  cried  this  young  lady,  as  she 
entered  the  room.  "  I  have  been  up  for  the  last  hour,  and 
should  have  come  to  chat  with  you  if  that  dreadful  old 
creature,  Mrs.  Ranger,  had  not  kept  me  to  help  her  put  her- 
self together.  I  never  knew  such  a  painted  sepulchre  as  she 
is,  —  such  a  made-up  specimen  of  self-modernized  antiquity. 
But,  by  the  bye,  I  have  not  until  now  had  an  opportunity 


FASHIONABLE  DEPRAVITY  67 


of  asking  you  both  what  you  think  of  our  travelling-com- 
panion? " 

"  That  is  the  very  subject  we  have  been  discussing  for 
the  last  hour,  Julia/'  replied  Agatha.  We  both  consider 
him  uncommonly  handsome,  agreeable,  and  fascinating. 
Indeed,  for  myself,  I  infinitely  prefer  him  to  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  Emma  likes  him  much  better  than  the  Duke  of 
York—" 

"  And  I  now  regard  the  Duke  of  Cumberland  as  a  perfect 
orang-outang  of  ugliness  in  comparison  with  this  Adonis 
of  a  Jocelyn,"  observed  Julia,  with  a  gentle  sigh. 

"  Has  he  exhibited  any  tenderness  toward  you?  "  inquired 
Agatha. 

"  Not  the  least,"  she  answered,  in  surprise  at  the  ques- 
tion.   "  What  made  you  think  so?  " 

"  Because  he  has  rejected  certain  little  overtures  which 
Emma  and  I  have  made  toward  him,"  responded  the  eldest 
sister;  and  therefore  we  fancied  that  he  must  either  have 
experienced  a  preference  for  you,  or  else  must  be  proof 
against  our  witcheries  altogether." 

"  What!  a  handsome  young  man  feel  no  passion!  "  ex- 
claimed Julia;  and  three  pretty  girls  unable  to  thaw  the 
ice  of  his  heart.   It's  too  absurd." 

So  we  think,"  rejoined  Agatha;  "  and  therefore  we  are 
going  to  lay  siege  to  him  in  our  turns.  I  first,  Emma  second, 
and  you  third,  Julia,  if  we  fail." 

Be  it  so,"  said  the  youngest  of  the  three  sisters. 

And  after  this  delectable  conversation,  they  descended  to 
the  sitting-room,  where  Jocelyn  was  already  seated,  deep 
in  the  perusal  of  a  French  newspaper.  Mrs.  Ranger  shortly 
made  her  appearance;  and  during  the  repast  the  plans  of 
the  day  were  settled.  It  was  arranged  that  immediately 
after  breakfast  they  should  all  proceed  together  to  visit 
some  of  the  principal  buildings,  that  they  should  return  to 
luncheon  at  three,  that  in  the  afternoon  those  who  had 
purchases  to  make  should  go  out  shopping,  and  that  in  the 
evening  the  whole  party  should  visit  some  theatre. 

Jocelyn  had  been  in  Paris  before,  as  had  also  Mrs.  Ranger; 
they  were  consequently  well  able  to  conduct  the  young 
ladies  to  all  the  most  remarkable  sights  in  the  French 
metropolis,  and  a  few  hours  were  thus  passed  agreeably 
enough.    They  returned  to  Meurice's  shortly  after  three 


68  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


o'clock;  and  during  lunch-time  Emma  inquired  who  pro- 
posed to  accompany  her  on  a  visit  to  the  milliners',  jewel- 
lers', and  other  fashionable  repositories.  Mrs.  Ranger 
was  of  course  indispensable  to  such  a  tour,  which  required 
her  knowledge  of  Paris,  and  Julia  was  prompt  in  giving  an 
affirmative  answer.  But  Agatha,  pleading  a  slight  headache, 
expressed  her  intention  of  remaining  indoors  until  the  eve- 
ning; and  Jocelyn  said  not  a  word.  He  was,  however,  well 
pleased  at  thus  finding  an  opportunity  of  discoursing  alone 
with  one  of  the  sisters. 

Mrs.  Ranger,  Emma,  and  Julia  went  up  to  dress  again; 
and  Agatha  inquired  gaily  whether  Mr.  Loftus  meant  to 
stay  and  keep  her  company.  He  replied  that  he  proposed 
to  do  himself  that  honour,  and  Agatha  turned  suddenly 
away  to  conceal  the  flush  of  mingled  joy  and  sensuous  antic- 
ipation which  she  felt  burning  upon  her  cheeks.  Observing 
that  she  must  leave  him  for  a  few  minutes,  in  order  to  help 
her  sister  Emma  at  the  afternoon's  toilet,  she  hurried  from 
the  apartment. 

Jocelyn  will  remain  with  me,"  she  said,  in  a  tone  of 
triumph,  as  she  entered  the  chamber  to  which  Emma  had 
preceded  her.  And  now,  then,  let  me  make  the  most  of 
the  charms  which  Heaven  has  given  me." 

She  selected  a  dress  which,  without  being  too  fine  or  in  any 
way  gaudy,  was  of  surpassing  elegance;  and  being  made  after 
the  most  approved  fashion  of  the  day,  it  was  cut  so  low  in 
the  body  as  to  leave  the  shoulders  entirely  bare  and  reveal 
so  much  of  the  bust  that  the  imagination  had  but  little 
trouble  in  filling  up  the  remainder  of  the  glowing  picture. 
She  was  not  above  the  middle  height,  though  a  little  taller 
than  Emma;  but  there  was  more  dignity  in  her  gait  than 
in  that  of  her  sister,  and  the  statuesque  carriage  of  her  neck 
and  shoulders  gave  her  bosom,  naturally  fine,  the  grandest 
development.  This  she  knew  full  well;  and  hence  her  selec- 
tion of  a  dress  which  displayed  her  charms  to  the  most 
voluptuous  advantage.  But  she  threw  over  her  shoulders 
a  gauze  kerchief,  thus  flimsily  veiling  the  beauties  which, 
with  all  the  accomplished  artifices  of  coquetry,  she  really 
intended  to  be  seen. 

Mrs.  Ranger,  Emma,  and  Juha  saUied  forth  together, 
and  Agatha  returned  to  the  sitting-room,  where  Jocelyn 
had  remained.    The  moment  she  made  her  appearance  in 


FASHIONABLE  DEPRAVITY  69 


that  seductive  manner,  her  aim  and  object  flashed  to  the 
mind  of  Loftus;  and,  though  his  looks  betrayed  not  his 
sentiments,  he  inwardly  experienced  a  mingled  pain  and 
disgust  at  this  too  brazen  evidence  of  a  deep  depravity. 
For  an  instant  he  was  inclined  to  abandon  the  self-imposed 
task  of  reforming  the  three  sisters  as  utterly  hopeless; 
but  then  the  feeling  of  pity  for  their  unhappy  destiny 
returned  to  his  soul,  and,  likewise  remembering  his  pledge  to 
Mary,  he  resolved  to  prosecute  an  undertaking  which  was 
nevertheless  accompanied  by  so  many  incidents  that  shocked 
his  upright  character  and  wounded  his  generous  heart. 

Throwing  herself  with  a  voluptuous  negligence  upon  a 
sofa,  she  darted  a  look  all  vibrating  with  desire  upon  Jocelyn 
Loftus,  who,  taking  a  chair  near  her,  paid  no  attention  to 
the  studied  but  apparently  involuntary  display  of  charms 
and  fascinations,  the  artillery  of  which  was  now  directed 
against  him. 

"  Miss  Owen,"  he  said,  in  a  calm  but  serious  voice,  and 
without  looking  at  her, I  purposely  sought  the  opportunity 
of  this  interview." 

Indeed!  "  she  murmured,  her  heart  suddenly  beating 
with  transport  at  what  she  instantaneously  took  as  an 
avowal,  and  which  seemed  at  the  moment  to  promise  her 
a  far  more  easy  victory  than  she  had  expected;  and  the 
colour  came  and  went  in  rapid  transitions  upon  her  very 
beautiful  countenance. 

"  I  have  behaved  with  some  little  duplicity  toward  you," 
continued  Loftus,  still  keeping  his  eyes  averted;  but  the 
moment  for  serious  explanation  is  now  come." 

And  why  should  they  be  so  serious?  "  asked  the  young 
lady,  in  a  low  and  tremulous  tone  the  tenderness  of  which 
at  once  struck  Jocelyn  and  convinced  him  that  his  prefatory 
remark  had  been  entirely  mistaken. 

For  suddenly  turning  his  eyes,  in  mingled  amazement, 
pity,  and  pain,  upon  Agatha,  he  saw  that  the  kerchief  had 
fallen  away  from  her  shoulders,  and  that  she  was  leaning 
toward  him  with  all  the  nude  display  of  her  luxuriant  charms 
and  with  a  profound  wantonness  in  her  looks. 

"  Miss  Owen,"  he  at  once  exclaimed,  turning  aside  with 
an  impatience  almost  amounting  to  disgust,  "  let  us  under- 
stand each  other.  It  is  purely  and  simply  upon  a  matter  of 
business  that  I  propose  to  address  you;  and  the  explanations 


70  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


I  have  to  give  are  of  a  very  serious  character,  I  can  assure 
you." 

But  I  am  in  no  humour  for  serious  discourse,  Mr. 
Loftus,"  said  Agatha,  in  a  tone  of  vexation;  and  as  the 
blood  rushed  to  her  cheeks,  she  bit  her  Hp  nervously. 

When  I  tell  you,  Miss  Owen,  that  I  am  acquainted  with 
your  sister  Mary,"  observed  Jocelyn,  "  you  will  perhaps 
condescend  to  listen  to  me." 

"  Ah!  "  ejaculated  the  young  lady;  and,  the  keenest 
interest  being  suddenly  excited  in  her  mind,  she  mechanically 
drew  the  kerchief  over  her  shoulders,  as  if  abandoning,  at 
least  for  the  moment,  her  wanton  designs  upon  Loftus. 

"  Yes,  I  have  seen  Miss  Mary  Owen,"  he  continued,  "  and 
she  has  told  me  all  —  everything.  It  was  by  no  accident 
that  I  fell  in  your  way  at  Calais,  and  that  I  became  your 
traveUing-companion  to  Paris.  I  purposely  sought  the 
opportunity  to  form  your  acquaintance,  in  the  hope  of 
being  enabled  to  point  out  to  yourself  and  your  two  sisters 
the  lasting  dishonour  that  will  attach  itself  to  your  name 
if  you  persevere  in  the  course  where  the  most  fatal  influences 
have  placed  you.  For  if  you  regard  the  matter  in  its  true 
light,  you  will  perceive  —  you  cannot  fail  to  understand, 
indeed,"  he  added,  emphatically,  "  that  you  are  taking 
part  in  a  shocking  conspiracy  to  ruin  the  peace  and  destroy 
the  character  of  a  lady  who  has  never  injured  you.  I  allude 
to  her  Royal  Highness  the  Princess  of  Wales." 

Heavens!  that  little  traitress,  Mary,  has  indeed  be- 
trayed us,"  cried  Agatha,  now  seriously  alarmed,  and 
totally  losing  sight  of  all  the  sensuous  thoughts  which  a  few 
minutes  before  were  uppermost  in  her  imagination.  But 
where  is  she,  Mr.  Loftus?  How  came  you  to  fall  in  with 
her?  " 

The  day  after  she  quitted  you  at  Woolwich,  Miss  Owen, 
did  I  encounter  your  unhappy  sister  in  the  streets  of  London ; 
and  you  may  rest  assured  that  she  is  not  only  in  a  place  of 
safety,  but  also  in  honourable  companionship.  I  am  com- 
paratively a  stranger  to  you,"  added  Jocelyn,  with  some 
little  significancy;  "  but  I  leave  you  to  determine  whether 
from  the  first  moment  of  our  acquaintance,  the  day  before 
yesterday,  you  have  seen  aught  in  me  that  would  warrant 
a  suspicion  against  my  principles  and  my  honour.  I  am 
young,"  he  continued,     perhaps  too  young  to  undertake 


FASHIONABLE  DEPRAVITY  71 


a  portion  of  the  task  which  I  have  imposed  upon  myself,  and 
which  is  the  awakening  of  yourself  and  your  sisters  to  a  sense 
of  the  enormity  of  that  service  wherein  you  are  embarked. 
But  I  cannot  think,  no,  I  dare  not  entertain  so  vile  an  opinion 
of  human  nature  as  to  suppose  that  you  will  designedly, 
deliberately,  and  systematically  undertake  the  ruin  of  a 
princess  who  has  already  suffered  so  much.  I  beseech, 
I  implore  you.  Miss  Owen,  to  weigh  the  matter  well,  to  pause, 
to  reflect,  to  decide  on  the  score  of  justice,  honour,  and 
humanity.  You  have  not  yet  compromised  yourself  too 
deeply  to  withdraw  from  this  atrocious  service.  Pardon  me 
for  using  harsh  terms  and  strong  language;  but  my  indigna- 
tion will  not  permit  me  to  speak  in  a  milder  tone." 

"  What  do  you  advise,  what  do  you  wish,  Mr.  Loftus?  " 
asked  Agatha,  nervously  excited  and  scarcely  knowing  what 
she  said. 

If  you  would  abandon  the  service  in  which  you  have 
embarked,"  exclaimed  the  young  man,  enthusiastically, 
"  I  would  love  you  as  a  sister." 

"  Ah!  that  is  but,  after  all,  a  cold  expression,"  murmured 
Agatha,  with  a  tone  and  look  of  reviving  tenderness.  ^'  There 
are  perhaps  terms  on  which  I  might  Usten  to  you,  there  is 
a  language  you  might  adopt  that  would  prove  irresistible  —  " 

"  Oh,  do  not  talk  to  me  thus.  Miss  Owen,"  exclaimed 
Loftus;  and  as  he  turned  his  eyes  reproachfully  upon  her, 
he  observed  that  her  own  were  swimming  in  a  soft,  sensuous 
languor  and  that  she  was  again  performing  the  part  of  a  siren- 
temptress.  I  will  not  affect  to  misunderstand  you,  because 
it  will  only  be  prolonging  a  topic  that  is  unfit  for  us  both. 
Know,  then,  that  I  love  and  am  betrothed  to  a  young  lady 
whose  image  is  never  absent  from  my  mind,  a  being  endowed 
with  every  virtue,  and  the  purity  of  whose  soul  shall 
never  be  outraged  or  shocked  by  any  word  or  deed  on  my 
part." 

You  are  the  most  admirable  preacher  I  ever  heard  out 
of  a  pulpit,  Mr.  Loftus,"  said  Agatha,  in  a  voice  of  bitter 
irony;  but  instantaneously  recovering  her  wonted  good- 
humour,  she  observed,  If  you  fancy  that  I  hoped  to  in- 
veigle you  into  a  marriage  with  me,  you  are  much  deceived. 
But  you  spoke  of  loving  me  as  a  sister  —  " 

I  meant  that  if  you  would  adopt  a  course  worthy  of 
a  high-spirited  and  humane  woman,"  interrupted  Loftus, 


72 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  I  should  experience  that  admiration,  should  feel  that 
friendship  —  " 

Which  would  doubtless  be  eminently  flattering  to  me," 
added  the  young  lady,  in  a  tone  of  good-tempered  sarcasm. 

But  if  I  give  you  no  satisfactory  assurance  on  that  point?  " 
she  said,  inquiringly. 

Then  I  shall  have  no  alternative  but  to  hasten  on  to 
Italy  and  warn  her  Royal  Highness  of  the  perils  and  the 
treacheries  which  are  closing  in  around  her.'' 

"  You  would  not  go  to  this  extreme,  Mr.  Loftus?  "  ex- 
claimed Agatha,  now  more  terrified  than  ever. 

"  It  would  be  made  compulsory  on  my  part  by  your 
perseverance  in  an  unjust  and  dishonourable  course,'* 
responded  the  young  gentleman.  In  any  case,  I  am 
determined  to  seek  an  interview  with  her  Royal  Highness; 
but  I  should  feel  well  pleased  not  to  be  compelled  to  make 
any  mention  of  the  name  of  Owen." 

But  if  m}^  two  sisters  and  I  were  to  pledge  ourselves  to 
observe  a  discreet,  forbearing,  and  honourable  conduct 
toward  the  princess?  "  exclaimed  Agatha,  interrogatively. 

"  Even  on  those  terms,  you  could  not  accept  situations 
about  her  person  with  honour  to  yourselves,"  answered 
Jocelyn. 

Ah!  you  mean  to  say  that  you  would  not  believe  us," 
cried  Agatha,  her  countenance  becoming  crimson.  "  But 
how  can  we  retreat?  Would  you  have  us  return  to  England 
and  tell  our  mother  that  we  have  thrown  up  these  high 
situations  and  renounced  all  these  brilliant  prospects? 
It  is  for  you  to  pause  and  reflect,  Mr.  Loftus.  What  would 
become  of  us?  Our  mother's  door  would  be  closed  against 
us;  the  pubhc  would  fancy  that  something  injurious  to 
our  characters  had  been  suddenly  discovered,  and  that  our 
appointments  as  ladies  in  waiting  to  the  princess  had  been 
cancelled.  Ruin,  utter  ruin,  irremediable  ruin,  would  over- 
take us,"  exclaimed  Agatha,  in  a  voice  of  despair. 

"  A  more  fatal  destruction  will  entomb  you,  body  and 
soul.  Miss  Owen,"  said  Jocelyn  Loftus,  with  deep  solemnity, 
"  if  you  persist  in  becoming  the  instruments  of  a  vile  con- 
spiracy. Besides,  think  you  that  the  Princess  of  Wales 
will  receive  you  into  her  establishment  if  forewarned  against 
you?  " 

"  Will  you  make  war  upon  three  young  ladies  who  have 


FASHIONABLE  DEPRAVITY  73 


not  injured  you,  sir?  "  demanded  Agatha,  with  a  mixture  of 
indignation  and  reproach. 

"  Shall  I  suffer  war  to  be  made  by  three  young  ladies 
against  a  princess  who  not  only  has  never  injured  them, 
but  whom  so  many  high  personages  in  England  are  leagued 
together  to  ruin?  "  and  as  Jocelyn  thus  spoke,  he  fixed  his 
gaze  earnestly  upon  Agatha  Owen,  that  the  seriousness  of  his 
looks  might  confirm  the  decisiveness  of  his  language. 

"  Oh,  if  my  mother  were  here  to  counsel  us! "  she  exclaimed, 
bursting  into  tears;  and  the  bosom  that  ere  now  glowed 
with  sensuous  transports  and  palpitated  with  the  longings 
of  desire  was  convulsed  with  sobs. 

It  is  a  most  painful  thing  for  any  one  to  speak  ill  of  a 
mother  to  the  ears  of  her  daughters,"  said  Jocelyn;  "  but 
you  must  be  aware,  Miss  Owen,  that  she  who  should  have 
proved  your  best  friend  has  been  your  greatest  enemy,  and 
fortunate  will  it  be  for  you,  perhaps,  that  your  mother  is 
not  now  here  to  influence  your  decision." 

And  if  my  sisters  and  I  renounce  the  service  in  which 
we  are  engaged,"  said  Agatha,  when  the  first  convulsion  of 
grief  had  passed,  what  course  are  we  to  pursue?  Whither 
shall  we  go?  " 

Return  to  England,  seek  your  mother,  and  tell  her  the 
whole  truth,"  replied  Loftus.  "  Say  that  you  had  no  alterna- 
tive but  to  come  back  to  her,  inasmuch  as  I  was  so  resolute, 
so  sternly  resolute,  in  declaring  that  if  you  did  not,  I  would 
warn  the  princess  against  you." 

"  But  I  must  consult  my  sisters,  I  must  also  consult  with 
Mrs.  Ranger,"  observed  Agatha;  and  this  blow  has  fallen 
so  suddenly,  so  unexpectedly." 

"  Take  as  much  time  as  you  think  fit,  Miss  Owen,"  said 
Jocelyn,  and  in  the  interval  I  will  keep  aloof  from  you,  I 
will  even  remove  my  quarters  to  another  hotel  —  " 

"  No,  that  would  excite  suspicions  and  create  scandal 
here,"  interrupted  Agatha,  hastily;  for,  notwithstanding 
the  hostile  and  dictatorial  attitude  which  Loftus  had  as- 
sumed, she  did  not  wish  to  part  from  him. 

"  I  will  do  nothing  to  increase  your  present  annoyance," 
he  responded.  "  If  you  can  still  regard  me  in  a  friendly 
light,  after  all  that  has  just  occurred,  I  shall  cheerfully 
remain  in  your  company.  Indeed,  I  shall  consider  your 
desire  for  me  to  do  so  as  an  evidence  of  improved  feeling 


74  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


on  your  part,  and  a  proof  that  you  understand  and  appre- 
ciate the  sentiments  by  which  my  conduct  is  actuated. 
I  shall  now  leave  you,  Miss  Owen,  for  the  present,  and  at 
six  o'clock  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  rejoining  you  at 
the  dinner-table,  when  I  hope  that  no  frowns  or  black  looks 
will  await  me  on  the  part  of  any  one." 

Having  thus  spoken,  Jocelyn  rose  from  his  seat,  bowed, 
and  quitted  the  apartment,  leaving  Agatha  a  prey  to  all 
the  conflicting  and  unenviable  feelings  which  her  own  dis- 
appointed sensuality  and  the  young  man's  decisive  conduct 
had  so  deeply  aroused  in  her  bosom. 

Mrs.  Ranger,  Emma,  and  Julia  shortly  afterward  returned; 
and  the  intelligence  which  Agatha  at  once  imparted  struck 
them  with  consternation.  They  were  amazed,  terrified, 
bewildered.  But  Mrs.  Ranger,  who  in  an  emergency  was 
prompt  at  laying  aside  the  airs  of  an  old  coquette  and  look- 
ing matters  deliberately  in  the  face,  soon  recovered  her 
presence  of  mind;  and,  consulting  her  watch,  she  said,  It 
is  now  five  o'clock;  we  dine  at  six,  and  there  is  one  hour 
before  us.   In  that  hour  much  may  be  done." 

But  what  can  we  do?  "  inquired  the  three  sisters,  as 
if  in  the  same  breath. 

''If  we  persist  in  continuing  our  journey  to  join  the 
princess,"  proceeded  Agatha,  "  Jocelyn  Loftus  will  hasten 
on  in  advance  and  poison  the  mind  of  her  Royal  Highness, 
so  that  we  shall  be  dismissed  in  ignominy  when  we  seek  her 
presence;  and  to  abandon  the  enterprise  without  a  struggle 
would  be  to  compel  our  return  in  equal  ignominy  to  London." 

"  Agatha,"  said  Mrs.  Ranger,  fixing  her  eyes  with  a  pecul- 
iar but  unmistakable  meaning  upon  the  eldest  girl,  "  were 
there  no  means  by  which  you  could  have  silenced  this 
morahzing  babbler?  Ah!  if  I  were  of  your  age  and  possessed 
such  sweet  lips  as  yours,  they  should  have  been  employed 
as  a  seal  to  set  upon  his  mouth." 

''  He  is  beyond  temptation,"  replied  Agatha,  the  blood 
rushing  to  her  cheeks  and  suffusing  its  crimson  glow  on  her 
neck  and  shoulders,  down  to  the  very  hemispheres  of  her 
bosoms. 

''Ah!  I  understand,"  said  Mrs.  Ranger,  now  observing 
the  luxurious  exposure  of  Agatha's  charms  and  comprehend- 
ing the  motive.  "  We  must  adopt  another  course.  Sit 
down  at  once  and  pen  a  few  lines  to  your  mother:  tell  her 


FASHIONABLE  DEPRAVITY  75 


what  has  happened,  demand  her  immediate  counsel,  and 
say  that  we  shall  remain  in  Paris  for  her  instructions.  I 
will  in  the  meantime  go  myself  and  arrange  with  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  hotel  for  a  courier  to  become  the  bearer  of  the 
letter,  as  we  cannot  wait  the  delays  of  the  ordinary  post." 

"  But  Jocelyn  must  not  know  that  we  are  despatching  a 
courier  to  London,"  observed  Agatha.  At  least,  it  would 
be  better  that  he  should  not." 

"  Leave  the  affair  in  my  hands,  and  lose  not  a  moment 
in  penning  your  letter,"  said  the  old  Hecate  of  iniquity. 

In  half  an  hour  it  must  be  ready." 

She  then  left  the  apartment. 
And  so  Jocelyn  was  proof  against  your  witcheries?  " 
exclaimed  Emma  and  Julia,  the  instant  the  door  closed 
behind  Mrs.  Ranger. 

"  His  heart  is  of  stone  to  us,"  was  the  emphatic  response; 

but  he  loves  another.  For  my  part,  I  have  done  with  him, 
—  at  least  I  think  so,  —  and  yet  he  is  so  agreeable  as  a 
companion  that  I  should  be  sorry  to  lose  him  altogether 
from  us." 

"  Well,  my  turn  is  now  come  to  lay  siege  to  him,"  cried 
Emma,  her  looks  glowing  with  the  animation  of  hope. 

Agatha  now  began  to  write  the  letter  to  her  mother; 
and  in  about  twenty  minutes  it  was  concluded.  Mrs. 
Ranger  soon  afterward  made  her  appearance,  followed 
by  a  French  courier,  ready  booted  and  spurred;  the  despatch 
was  delivered  to  him,  and  he  instantaneously  took  his 
departure. 

At  six  o'clock  the  dinner  was  served  up,  and  Jocelyn 
made  his  appearance.  Mrs.  Ranger  and  the  girls  were  less 
cheerful  than  hitherto;  but  there  was  no  alteration  in  the 
friendly  tone  of  their  manner  toward  himself.  Indeed,  a 
glass  of  champagne  presently  restored  them  all  to  something 
near  their  wonted  liveliness;  and  after  dinner  Jocelyn 
escorted  them  to  the  theatre.  They  returned  to  the  hotel 
at  about  eleven  o'clock,  and  sought  their  chambers. 

The  following  day  —  this  was  Wednesday,  and  the  same 
on  which  Venetia  and  Sackville  were  married  in  London  — 
was  passed  in  visiting  the  various  exhibitions  and  public 
buildings  that  remained  to  be  seen.  Not  a  word  was  spoken 
relative  to  the  all-important  matter  then  pending;  but 
Jocelyn  remarked  that  Agatha  did  not  seem  so  anxious 


76  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


as  before  to  keep  near  him  when  they  were  walking,  or  sit 
next  to  him  in  the  carriage  which  was  hired  for  the  excursion; 
whereas  it  was  now  Emma  who  monopoUzed  his  arm  and 
engrossed  to  herself  all  the  attentions  which  the  rules  of 
courtesy  compelled  him  to  display. 

The  next  day  (Thursday)  was  passed  in  a  similar  manner, 
still  nothing  more  being  said  about  the  important  topic  of 
Jocelyn's  discourse  with  Agatha,  and  Emma  still  constitut- 
ing herself  the  monopolist  of  his  attentions.  The  ladies 
all  seemed  to  be  a  trifle  less  cheerful  than  at  first;  and  it 
was  therefore  evident  that  the  affair  had  made  some  impres- 
sion upon  them.  But  why  they  took  so  much  time  to  arrive 
at  a  decision,  Loftus  could  not  imagine.  If  he  were,  however, 
at  a  loss  on  this  point,  he  had  no  difficulty  in  observing  that 
Emma  was  assailing  his  heart  with  a  thousand  little  seductive 
wiles  and  insidious  fascinations;  but  he  seemed  to  take  no 
notice  thereof,  and  he  assuredly  gave  her  no  encouragement. 

This  same  Thursday  brought  letters  from  England,  some 
for  the  Misses  Owen,  and  others  for  Jocelyn.  The  former, 
written  by  the  young  ladies'  mother,  made  them  acquainted 
with  the  burglary  which  had  taken  place  on  the  preceding 
Sunday  at  Richmond,  and  the  death  of  the  footman.  The 
correspondence  for  Loftus  was  from  his  beloved  Louisa,  who 
gave  him  the  fondest  and  tenderest  assurances  of  her  un- 
alterable attachment.  Before  Jocelyn  retired  to  bed  that 
Thursday  night,  he  read  Louisa's  letters  over  and  over  again, 
and  sat  up  late  to  pen  her  a  long  epistle  in  reply.  He  stated 
frankly  that  he  was  still  in  company  with  Mrs.  Ranger  and 
the  Misses  Owen,  that  he  had  broken  the  ice  with  regard  to 
the  object  of  his  visit  to  the  Continent,  and  that  he  hoped  to 
succeed  in  inducing  Mary's  sisters  to  abandon  their  nefarious 
enterprise  of  their  own  accord,  without  compelling  him  to 
expose  them  to  the  Princess  of  Wales. 

The  following  day  (Friday)  was  passed  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  two  preceding  days;  and  Saturday  was  slipping  by 
in  a  similar  way,  when  Jocelyn  thought  it  high  time  to  ex- 
press his  hope  to  Agatha  that  a  decision  would  be  promptly 
announced  to  him.  He  accordingly  found  an  opportunity 
of  mentioning  the  subject  apart  to  her,  and  she  at  once 
assured  him  that  on  the  morrow  he  should  receive  a  final 
answer.  A  suspicion  which  he  had  already  conceived,  to  the 
effect  that  the  ladies  were  awaiting  instructions  from  Eng- 


FASHIONABLE  DEPRAVITY  77 


land,  now  became  strengthened  in  his  mind;  and  he  frankly 
stated  his  thoughts  to  Agatha.  But  with  an  appearance  of 
the  most  ingenuous  sincerity  she  vowed  that  the  delay  was 
caused  solely  by  the  difficulty  of  coming  to  a  decision  on  the 
point;  and  she  added  that  the  morrow  being  Sunday,  they 
had  resolved  to  devote  the  morning  to  an  earnest  deliberation 
on  the  course  which  was  to  be  pursued.  Jocelyn  was  satisfied 
to  wait  four  and  twenty  hours  longer,  and  no  more  was  said 
upon  the  subject  this  day. 

Having  visited  a  theatre  in  the  evening,  the  party  returned 
to  the  hotel  at  about  eleven  o'clock,  as  usual;  and  soon 
afterward  they  sought  their  respective  chambers.  But 
when  Jocelyn  entered  his  own  apartment,  he  found  a  note 
lying  upon  the  toilet-table,  and  on  examining  the  address, 
he  perceived  that  it  was  in  a  beautiful  female  hand- 
writing. 

For  a  few  moments  he  hesitated  to  break  the  seal,  suspect- 
ing that  it  was  a  communication  from  one  of  the  young 
ladies;  but  considering,  on  a  second  thought,  that  indiscre- 
tion and  indeUcacy  could  scarcely  be  carried  so  far,  he  opened 
the  letter.  His  charitable  conclusion  was,  however,  doomed 
to  disappointment,  for  the  contents  of  the  note  ran  as 
follows: 

"  It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  Agatha  and  I  should  have 
a  few  minutes'  conversation  with  you  alone,  and  as  soon  as 
possible.  I  am  altogether  of  opinion  that  my  sisters  and  my- 
self should  retire  from  the  false  and  painful  position  in  which 
the  influence  and  intrigues  of  others  have  placed  us;  and 
for  my  own  part  I  am  resolved  to  follow  the  excellent  advice 
which  you  so  generously,  disinterestedly,  and  kindly  gave 
Agatha.  In  a  word,  I  shall  resign  my  appointment  as  lady 
in  waiting  to  her  Royal  Highness  the  Princess  of  Wales. 
Agatha  is  also  inclined  to  adopt  the  same  course;  but  Julia 
cannot  be  persuaded  to  fall  into  the  same  view,  and  Mrs. 
Ranger  is  perversely  bent  in  opposing  it.  This  lady  watches 
us  narrowly,  in  order  to  prevent  any  private  conversation 
with  you  upon  the  subject.  To-morrow,  immediately  after 
breakfast,  we  are  to  hold  a  consultation,  and  a  decision  will 
be  arrived  at.  But  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  Agatha 
and  myself  should  have  the  benefit  of  further  counsel  from 
your  lips  before  this  consultation.   Will  you,  then,  have  the 


78  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 

kindness  to  meet  us  to-morrow  morning  at  eight  o'clock  in 
the  Champs  Elysees? 

"  Emma  Owen." 


"  It  may  be  written  in  full  honesty  and  sincerity,"  said 
Loftus  to  himself,  as  he  contemplated  the  note  which  he  had 
just  perused;  "  but  still  I  have  my  misgivings.  Nevertheless, 
I  will  not  prejudge  the  writer,  but  will  keep  the  appoint- 
ment." 


I 


CHAPTER  VII 

ANOTHER  PHASE  OF  FASHIONABLE  DEPRAVITY 

Clear,  bright,  and  beautiful  was  the  Sunday  morning,  as 
Jocelyn  Loftus  issued  from  the  Hotel  Meurice  and  bent  his 
way  to  the  shady  avenues  of  the  Champs  Elysees.  This 
beautiful  resort  was  not  above  ten  minutes'  walk  from  the 
hotel;  and  on  reaching  the  central  avenue,  Jocelyn  was 
almost  instantaneously  joined  by  Emma  Owen. 

Where  is  your  sister?  "  he  inquired,  with  a  somewhat 
serious  air;  for  on  finding  that  she  was  alone,  his  misgivings 
of  the  preceding  night  returned  with  double  force  to  his 
breast. 

She  was  so  long  in  dressing  that  I  feared  to  be  late," 
responded  Emma,  with  an  air  of  frank  sincerity;  and  as 
we  breakfast  at  nine,  you  know,  there  was  not  a  minute  to 
spare." 

We  will  at  once,  then,  proceed  to  the  object  of  our  inter- 
view," said  Jocelyn,  offering  his  arm  to  the  young  lady,  and 
leading  her  gently  along  the  avenue. 

We  must  here  pause  to  observe  that  on  the  Sunday  morn- 
ing in  those  times,  as  well  as  at  the  present  day,  large  numbers 
of  the  working  classes  were  in  the  habit  of  proceeding  early 
to  the  villages  in  the  suburbs  of  Paris  to  pass  the  day  in 
dancing,  rambling  in  the  woods,  water  excursions,  picnics, 
and  other  innocent  recreations.  There  was  scarcely  a  Sunday 
without  a  ducasse,  or  fair,  in  one  of  these  suburban  villages; 
and  the  Champs  Elysees  were  always  sure  to  be  thronged  in 
the  morning  with  the  pleasure-seekers  repairing  to  the 
scenes  of  their  amusement.  Such  was  the  case  on  the  present 
occasion;  and  it  was  evidently  impossible  to  pursue  a  serious 
and  uninterrupted  discourse  in  the  central  road  of  the 
Champs  Elysees.    Jocelyn  was  therefore  compelled  to  con- 

79 


80 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


duct  his  fair  companion  into  one  of  the  less  frequented 
paths;  and  indeed  they  soon  found  themselves  entirely 
alone  in  a  secluded  avenue  of  trees. 

Emma  was  elegantly  dressed,  and  looked  truly  beautiful. 
The  morning  air  and  the  inward  fluttering  of  her  feelings 
heightened  the  colour  upon  her  cheeks  and  appeared  to 
enhance  the  lustre  of  her  eyes.  Few  men  could  have  been 
stoical  enough  to  resjst  the  artillery  of  such  charms;  but 
Jocelyn  loved  his  absent  Louisa  with  the  purest,  holiest,  and 
most  fervid  passion,  and  such  a  love  is  an  armour  of  proof 
for  him  who  experiences  it. 

I  have  read  your  note  with  much  attention,  Miss  Owen, 
and  with  unfeigned  pleasure,"  he  began,  determined  to  take 
her  at  her  word  precisely  as  she  had  expressed  herself  in  her 
communication.  You  have  resolved  to  resign  your 
appointment,  your  eldest  sister  is  prepared,  you  tell  m^e,  to 
adopt  a  similar  course,  but  Miss  JuHa  cannot  so  easily 
abandon  a  post  which  she  doubtless  considers  to  be  invested 
with  briUiancy  and  honour.  Mrs.  Ranger  is  obstinately 
opposed  to  the  course  I  have  pointed  out,  and  she  perhaps 
exercises  considerable  influence  over  Miss  JuUa's  mind. 
Is  this  the  actual  position  of  the  affair?  " 

It  is,"  repHed  Emma.  Then,  gazing  up  fondly  in 
Jocelyn's  face,  she  said,  in  a  low  and  tremulous  tone,  "  It 
was  a  fatal  day,  Mr.  Loftus,  when  you  first  resolved  upon 
your  present  enterprise,  however  generous  and  even  chivalric 
may  have  been  your  motive." 

"  What  do  you  mean.  Miss  Owen?  "  he  demanded,  sur- 
veying her  in  astonishment. 

"  I  mean,  Mr.  Loftus,  —  and  I  implore  you  to  hear  me 
with  attention,"  she  cried,  grasping  his  arm  firmly  with  her 
elegantly  gloved  hand,  as  if  she  were  fearful  that  he  would 
escape  her,  —  ''I  mean  that  you  have  deprived  me  of  my 
peace  of  mind,  of  all  my  hopes  of  happiness  in  this  world. 
You  have  extirpated  one  idea  from  my  soul,  but  you  have 
implanted  another  there,  which  is  indelible.  You  have 
destroyed  the  dream  of  grandeur  which  I  had  pictured  to 
myself  in  connection  with  my  appointment  to  the  little 
court  of  her  Royal  Highness ;  and  you  have  left  in  the  place 
of  that  golden  vision  the  image  of  yourself.  Oh,  start  not, 
attempt  not  to  withdraw  your  arm,  you  must  and  you  shall 
hear  me!  "  she  exclaimed,  with  a  wild  energy.      For  I  am 


ANOTHER  PHASE  OF  DEPRAVITY  81 


not  the  mistress  of  my  own  feelings,  I  cannot  control  my 
own  actions.  I  have  conceived  for  you  a  passion  that  is  in 
itself  a  frenzy  —  " 

"  Miss  Owen,  I  dare  hear  no  more,"  said  Jocelyn,  reso- 
lutely and  almost  sternly.  "  Let  it  suffice  for  you  to  learn 
and  for  me  to  declare  that  I  love  another." 

"Ah!  wretch  that  I  am!  "  she  cried,  with  a  faint  shriek. 
"  I  cannot  endure  to  live!  By  all  that  is  sacred,  I  swear  —  " 

"  Take  no  rash  vow,  calm  yourself,  tranquilUze  your 
feelings,"  exclaimed  Jocelyn,  cruelly  embarrassed  by  this 
scene,  and  deeply,  deeply  regretting  he  had  kept  the  ap- 
pointment; but  more  than  half -suspecting  that  her  frenzied 
manner  was  only  feigned,  he  said,  "  Remember  how  indis- 
creet, how  unladyhke,  how  unmaidenly  it  is  on  your  part, 
thus  to  address  a  young  man  who  is  almost  a  stranger  to 
you." 

"  A  stranger!"  cried  Emma,  hysterically,  as  she  clung  with 
force  to  his  arm.  No,  no;  I  am  as  well  acquainted  with 
you  as  if  I  had  known  you  all  my  life.  Yours  are  qualities 
so  resplendent  that  they  take  one  by  surprise,  and  seize, 
as  it  were,  upon  the  very  heart.  You  must  not  blame  me 
for  what  I  have  done,  for  what  I  am  doing.  Why  did  you 
throw  yourself  in  my  way?  Why  did  you  seek  our  com- 
panionship in  this  journey?  It  was  not  I  who  sought  you 
in  the  first  instance.  Had  you  been  a  stranger  passing  me 
in  the  street,  and  if  I  had  accosted  you,  you  would  have  been 
justified  in  spurning  me  from  your  presence;  but  it  was  far 
different.  You  introduced  yourself,  as  it  were,  to  me,  you 
shone  upon  me  in  all  the  glory  of  your  beautiful  person  and 
your  brilliant  mind,  and  you  snatched  away  my  heart. 
It  was  not  taken  slowly  and  insidiously,  it  was  ravished  all 
in  a  moment.  And  can  I  help  this  love,  this  immeasurable 
love,  with  which  you  have  inspired  me?  Is  it  my  fault 
that  I  have  succumbed  to  the  magic  of  that  voice  and  those 
looks  the  influence  of  which  has  been  shed  upon  me?  And 
you  —  cruel  that  you  are  —  you  reproach  me  for  telling 
you  that  state  of  mind  into  which  you  yourself  have  plunged 
me!  " 

Then,  apparently  exhausted  by  this  torrent  of  words 
which  she  had  poured  out  with  passionate  vehemence, 
Emma  Owen  sank  upon  a  bench  and  gave  way  to  a  flood 
of  equally  violent  weeping. 


82 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Jocelyn  threw  a  rapid  glance  around;  and  it  was  some 
relief  to  his  immense  perplexity  to  be  assured  that  no  ob- 
server was  nigh.  Indeed,  he  was  most  cruelly  bewildered. 
The  ardour  of  the  young  lady's  language,  her  impassioned 
manner,  her  wild  looks,  and  then  her  apparently  deep 
anguish,  all  staggered  him.  Himself  too  little  versed  in  the 
treacheries  and  hypocrisies,  the  feints  and  the  artifices,  of 
which  the  human  mind  is  capable,  he  could  not  believe  that 
this  scene  was  all  duplicity,  all  a  studied  tragedy,  from  the 
beginning  up  to  the  present  stage.  And  yet  he  could  not 
bring  himself  to  fancy  it  entirely  genuine  and  real.  Thus, 
tormented  by  uncertainty,  fearful  of  proving  harsh  on  the 
one  hand,  and  recoiling  from  the  idea  of  being  made  a  dupe 
on  the  other,  he  dared  not  withhold  commiseration,  and  he 
dared  not  proffer  it. 

Miss  Owen,"  he  said,  in  a  voice  that  was  serious  without 
being  severe,  and  in  a  manner  that  was  reserved  without  be- 
ing harsh,  "  I  must  beg  and  implore  that  you  permit  me  at 
once  to  escort  you  back  to  the  hotel.  There  is  a  duty  which 
you  owe  to  yourself,  there  is  a  duty  which  you  owe  to  me  as 
a  fellow  creature.  That  is,  to  control  your  feelings,  to  what- 
ever extent  they  may  be  excited." 

''Oh,  this  is  maddening — maddening!"  exclaimed 
Emma,  clasping  her  hands  as  if  in  despair.  ''  How  can  you 
preach  patience,  calmness,  and  duty  to  one  who  is  goaded  to 
frenzy?  You  say  that  you  love  another.  Well,  I  seek  not 
to  interfere  with  the  happiness  of  that  being  whom  you  have 
blessed  with  this  enviable  love.  You  have  a  whole  life  to 
devote  to  her;  can  you,  then,  refuse  me  one  single  day,  one 
single  hour  of  love,  since  you  have  stolen  away  my  heart? 
Ah !  it  is  a  dreadful  confession  to  make,  and  I  feel  the  tingling 
of  shame  from  the  crown  of  my  head  to  my  very  feet;  but 
this  confession  must  be  made  all  the  same.  And  it  is  that  I 
love  you  with  a  madness  of  passion,  with  a  frenzy  that  will 
prove  my  death;  and  that  madness,  that  frenzy,  must  be 
appeased.  Surely  no  woman  ever  loved  so  wildly,  so  in- 
tensely, and  so  enthusiastically  before.  My  doom,  then, 
is  in  your  hands.  Give  me  one  day,  one  single  day,  of  that 
blessed  love  of  thine,  and  I  shall  sustain  myself  on  the 
memory  thereof  for  the  rest  of  my  life.  Nay,  I  shall  even  be 
happy,  contented,  rejoiced;  and  I  shall  treasure  up  the 
recollection  of  that  one  day's  consummated  bliss  as  the  only 


ANOTHER  PHASE  OF  DEPRAVITY  83 


gem  that  my  soul  covets.  But  refuse  me,  Jocelyn,  refuse 
me,"  she  said,  the  exaltation  of  her  voice  and  manner  sud- 
denly sinking  into  lowness  and  gloom,  refuse  me,  I  say, 
and  the  waters  of  the  Seine  are  deep  —  " 

Heavens!  what  madness  is  this?  "  cried  Loftus,  his 
perplexity  now  rising  into  the  cruellest  alarm.  "  I  have 
listened  to  you  too  long.  Miss  Owen,  and  you  have  said  too 
much." 

Farewell,  then,  farewell  for  ever!  "  she  suddenly  ex- 
claimed; and  springing  from  the  seat,  she  sped  along  the 
avenue  with  the  fleetness  of  the  hunted  deer,  toward  the 
bank  of  the  river  Seine  which  flowed  hard  by. 

Good  God!  she  is  serious  —  it  is  no  artifice!  "  thought 
Jocelyn;  and,  wild  with  terror,  he  bounded  after  her,  over- 
taking her  near  the  end  of  the  avenue. 

She  sank  exhausted  in  his  arms ;  and  as  he  bore  her  to  one 
of  the  numerous  benches  scattered  about,  he  saw  that  her 
eyes  were  closing  as  if  she  were  going  to  faint,  although  the 
deep  hues  of  overwrought  excitement  remained  upon  her 
cheeks. 

Placing  himself  upon  the  seat,  which  was  a  mere  common 
bench  without  any  back  to  lean  against,  he  was  compelled 
to  support  her  in  his  arms;  and  once  more  did  he  look  up 
and  down  the  avenue,  in  the  fear  of  being  observed.  But 
no  person  was  approaching,  nor  even  visible  from  that 
spot ;  and,  somewhat  relieved  by  this  circumstance,  he  again 
bent  his  looks  upon  the  countenance  of  the  young  lady. 

Ah!  it  were  sweet  to  die  thus,"  she  murmured,  softly, 
as  she  opened  her  eyes  and  gazed  up  into  his  counte- 
nance with  ineffable  tenderness.  But  wherefore  did  you 
pursue  me,  why  did  you  hold  me  back,  when  in  another 
minute  there  would  have  been  an  end  to  the  woes,  the  an- 
guish, and  the  despair  which  you  have  implanted  in  my 
bosom?  " 

Let  us  not  renew  the  conversation  now.  Miss  Owen,'' 
said  Jocelyn,  gently  raising  her  recumbent  form.  "  You 
have  afflicted  me  sadly,  you  have  terrified  me  profoundly, 
and  I  must  insist  that  we  return  at  once  to  the  hotel." 

"  You  will  subject  me,  then,  to  the  matchless  humihation 
of  having  besought  an  hour  of  your  love,  and  experiencing  a 
refusal?  "  murmured  Emma,  bending  down  her  hazel  eyes, 
upon  the  lashes  of  which  the  teardrops  trembled,  while  the 


84 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


blush  of  shame  was  now  upon  her  cheeks,  and  her  bosom 
was  convulsed  with  sobs. 

I  scarcely  think  you  comprehend  the  purport  of  your 
own  words,.  Miss  Owen/'  said  Loft  us,  emphatically;  "  and 
I  hope  to  God  that  you  do  not.  Very,  very  painful  would 
it  be  for  me  to  imagine  —  " 

"  Oh/'  she  exclaimed,  in  another  paroxysm  of  frenzied 
exaltation,  "  you  must  imagine  the  truth,  and  of  that  truth 
I  am  not  ashamed.  For  you  have  filled  my  heart  with  a 
passion  which  is  consuming  me;  and  all  my  happiness,  my 
very  hfe,  indeed,  is  staked  upon  the  hope  of  appeasing  it. 
Revile,  scorn,  loath,  abhor  me  as  you  will,  denounce  me  as 
unmaidenly,  proscribe  me  as  a  disgrace  to  my  sex,  but  still 
you  cannot  alter  the  condition  of  my  heart.  And  surely 
when  a  fond,  a  loving,  and  a  devoted  woman  offers  to  aban- 
don herself  to  you,  not  only  as  a  proof  of  that  illimitable 
worship,  that  frenzied  adoration,  but  also  that  she  herself 
may  have  the  recollection  of  that  hour  of  love  and  bliss  to 
compensate  her  for  the  loss  of  thee  thereafter  and  enable 
her  to  sustain  the  weight  of  the  future  years  of  her  existence, 
surely,  I  say,  you  will  not  spurn  her  altogether!  " 

Thus  speaking,  Emma  fixed  her  fond  and  earnest  regards 
in  profound  entreaty  upon  Jocelyn  Loft  us,  who,  shocked  at 
the  dreadful  depravity  which  was  enveloped  in  such  softly 
insidious  language,  could  not  prevent  his  looks  from  be- 
traying the  disgust  that  filled  his  soul. 

"  Take  my  arm,  madam,"  he  said,  in  a  stern  and  imperi- 
ous tone,  as  he  rose  from  the  bench.  "  It  is  time  we  should 
hasten  homeward." 

No,  I  will  not  move  until  I  have  your  response,"  ex- 
claimed Emma,  passionately. 

Then  hear  it,  whatever  be  the  consequences,"  rejoined 
Loftus.  Your  wiles,  your  arts,  your  fascinations  are 
wasted  upon  me.  I  would  sooner  perish  than  prove  unfaith- 
ful to  her  who  possesses  my  love.  Come,  Miss  Owen,  I  insist 
upon  our  immediate  departure  hence." 

Humihated,  baffled,  disappointed,  and  almost  crushed 
with  the  overpowering  sense  of  shame,  Emma  saw  that  her 
seductive  arts  were  indeed  thrown  away  upon  this  well- 
principled  young  man;  and  mechanically  taking  his  arm, 
she  suffered  him  to  lead  her  from  the  secluded  avenue  where 
the  extraordinary  scene  just  recorded  had  taken  place. 


ANOTHER  PHASE  OF  DEPRAVITY  85 


Not  a  word  was  now  spoken  between  them ;  nor  did  Emma 
dare  even  to  risk  a  furtive  glance  at  his  countenance,  for 
fear  he  should  observe  that  she  thus  regarded  him.  But 
there  was  in  the  depths  of  her  soul  the  intuitive  conviction 
that  his  looks  were  full  of  the  expression  of  outraged  feeling; 
and  depraved  as  she  was  in  heart,  she  nevertheless  deplored 
her  folly  in  risking  so  consummate  a  humiliation.  She  was 
also  racked  by  the  torture  of  unappeasable  desires;  for 
although  her  conduct  toward  Jocelyn  had  commenced  in 
artifice  and  duphcity,  it  had  nevertheless  acquired  a  certain 
amount  of  sincerity  from  the  inspiration  of  her  licentious 
passions.  Thus  the  ardour  of  her  language  was  not  altogether 
feigned;  but  it  was  created  by  the  heart's  own  incendiarism 
of  feeUngs,  and  not  by  the  purer  flame  of  love. 

In  silence  did  they  regain  the  hotel;  and  the  moment 
they  entered  the  passage  leading  to  the  sitting-room,  Jocelyn 
stopped  short. 

"  Miss  Owen,"  he  said,  I  shall  not  betray  to  a  Hving  soul 
the  particulars  of  the  interview  which  has  taken  place 
between  us.  I  will  not  add  to  your  humihation  by  pubhsh- 
ing  your  shame.  If  your  absence  has  been  observed,  I 
leave  you  to  give  what  explanations  you  choose.  But  I 
must  decline  the  honour  of  henceforth  joining  your  party 
at  table  or  elsewhere.  If  your  sisters  and  yourself  have  any 
communication  to  make  relative  to  the  important  subject 
which  I  need  only  thus  allude  to,  it  can  be  done  in  writing. 
But  if  I  hear  nothing  from  you  in  the  course  of  this  day, 
I  shall  to-morrow  morning  continue  my  journey  —  but 
alone  —  toward  Italy;  and  her  Royal  Highness  the  Princess 
of  Wales  will  be  duly  prepared  to  receive  the  spies  whom 
her  unprincipled  husband  has  appointed  to  attend  upon 
her." 

Having  thus  spoken,  Jocelyn  Loftus  bowed  coldly  and 
turned  away;  and  Emma,  who  had  hstened  with  flushing 
cheeks,  downcast  eyes,  and  trembhng  form,  hastened  up  to 
her  own  chamber  to  give  vent  to  her  agitated  feehngs  in  a 
flood  of  tears. 

On  thus  leaving  the  young  lady,  Jocelyn  issued  from  the 
passage  and  passed  into  the  courtyard  of  the  hotel,  for  the 
purpose  of  seeking  the  coffee-room  where  he  intended  to  take 
his  breakfast.  But  he  was  accosted  by  an  elderly,  sour- 
looking  Frenchman,  plainly  though  by  no  means  shabbily 


86 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


dressed,  and  the  first  glance  of  whose  eyes  seemed  intended 
to  pierce  Loftus  through  and  through. 

I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  he  began,  poUtely  raising  his 
hat,  but  I  wish  to  have  a  word  or  two  with  you  on  business 
of  importance." 

We  will  inquire  for  a  private  room,"  said  Jocelyn,  not 
much  liking  the  man's  appearance  or  mode  of  address,  and 
having  a  vague  and  undefined  suspicion  of  some  impending 
treachery. 

It  is  not  worth  while,  sir,"  was  the  response.  "  In  fact, 
I  may  as  well  inform  you  at  once  that  I  am  a  police  agent, 
and  those  persons,"  he  added,  glancing  over  his  shoulder 
toward  two  individuals,  also  in  plain  clothes,  who  were 
lounging  under  the  gateway,  "  are  my  comrades.  You  will 
have  the  goodness,  sir,  to  accompany  me  to  the  prefecture  of 
police." 

"  For  what  purpose,  and  upon  what  charge?  "  demanded 
Loftus,  indignantly. 

"  Merely  to  give  the  prefect  some  little  explanations, 
Bir,"  replied  the  police  agent.  "  I  dare  say  it  will  be  all  right; 
but  you  must  come  away  at  once." 

"  Allow  me  to  visit  my  chamber  for  a  moment,"  said 
Loftus,  "  in  order  to  fetch  some  papers  and  documents  that 
I  may  require  to  prove  my  respectability,  if  that  be  the  point 
on  which  the  prefect  demands  information." 

"  Your  papers  are  already  in  my  possession,  sir,"  re- 
turned the  police  agent,  drily. 

What!  you  have  dared  violate  the  privacy  of  my 
writing-desk?  "  exclaimed  Jocelyn,  more  indignantly  than 
at  first. 

"  I  had  my  authority,  sir,"  was  the  cold  and  laconic 
rejoinder. 

Jocelyn  paused  for  a  few  moments;  but  well  aware  that 
the  French  police  possessed  extraordinary  powers,  and 
reflecting  how  useless  it  would  be  to  defy  them,  he  said,  "  I 
will  accompany  you." 

The  agent  again  raised  his  hat  politely,  and  followed 
Loftus  from  the  courtyard  of  the  hotel.  On  emerging  into 
the  street,  they  entered  a  hackney-coach  that  was  ready 
waiting  at  a  little  distance,  and  the  officer  made  a  sign  to 
his  two  men  that  they  need  not  follow  into  the  vehicle,  as 
they  were  about  to  do. 


ANOTHER  PHASE  OF  DEPRAVITY  87 

The  hackney-coach  rolled  away  along  the  Rue  St.  Honore; 
and  during  its  progress  to  the  headquarters  of  the  police, 
Jocelyn  endeavoured  to  glean  from  his  companion  a  more 
special  idea  of  the  cause  of  the  present  proceeding.  But  the 
agent  was  so  guarded  in  his  replies  that  the  young  gentleman 
was  left  as  much  in  the  dark  as  he  was  before  he  put  his 
queries,  though,  perhaps,  his  own  conjectures  furnished  him 
with  some  faint  glimmering  of  the  real  truth. 

In  twenty  minutes  the  hackney-coach  turned  into  the 
dark  and  gloomy  gateway  of  the  prefecture;  and  Jocelyn 
was  immediately  conducted  by  the  police  agent  into  the 
presence  of  an  old  gentleman,  who  was  seated  at  a  desk  in  a 
handsomely  furnished  apartment.  This  functionary  was 
the  prefect  of  police. 

"  Be  seated,"  he  said,  in  a  courteous  tone;  and  Jocelyn, 
as  he  took  a  chair,  began  to  imagine  that  there  was  no 
treachery  in  contemplation,  after  all. 

Meantime  the  police  agent  had  quitted  the  apartment; 
but  returning  in  a  few  moments,  he  handed  the  prefect  a 
document  which  Jocelyn  instantaneously  recognized  as 
his  own  passport,  and  which  he  had  delivered  to  the  land- 
lord of  the  hotel,  according  to  custom,  on  his  arrival  in 
Paris. 

"  You  know  this  paper?  "  said  the  prefect,  displaying  it 
before  Jocelyn's  eyes. 

"  I  do.     It  is  my  passport,"  he  replied. 

"  But  it  is  made  out  in  a  false  name,  sir,"  remarked  the 
prefect.   "  You  do  not  deny  this  allegation?  " 

"  I  do  not  deny  it,"  rejoined  the  young  gentleman;  "  but 
I  will  at  once,  and,  I  am  sure,  in  the  most  satisfactory 
manner,  explain  to  your  Excellency  the  reasons  —  " 

"  I  ask  no  explanations,  sir,"  interrupted  the  prefect, 
more  curtly  and  severely  than  before.  With  your  motives 
I  have  nothing  to  do;  the  fact,  which  you  deny  not,  is  suffi- 
cient for  me.  It  is  my  painful  duty  to  detain  you  in 
custody  for  the  present.  You  will  have  the  goodness  to 
accompany  the  officer  —  " 

"  But,  your  Excellency,  this  outrage  —  " 
Silence,  sir!  "  ejaculated  the  prefect,  now  speaking  with 
unmitigated  sternness. 

"  No,  I  will  not  remain  silent,"  exclaimed  Loftus,  his 
countenance  glowing  with  indignation.     "  As  a  British 


88 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


subject,  I  shall  demand  the  protection  of  my  country's 
ambassador  —  '' 

But  the  prefect  cut  short  the  young  gentleman's  words 
by  abruptly  quitting  the  apartment;  and  the  police  agent, 
tapping  him  upon  the  shoulder,  said,  Have  the  goodness 
to  follow  me,  sir." 

Loftus,  perceiving  that  it  was  useless  to  remonstrate  with 
a  subordinate  who  was  obeying  the  commands  of  a  superior, 
accompanied  him  from  the  room,  and  was  conducted  along 
a  dark  passage  to  a  small,  ill-furnished  chamber,  the  windows 
of  which  were  defended  with  massive  iron  bars. 

The  door  was  then  closed  upon  him;  and  as  the  grating 
sound  of  the  key  turning  in  the  lock  and  of  the  huge  bolts 
shooting  into  their  sockets  met  his  ears,  he  thought  of  his 
absent  and  well-beloved  Louisa,  and  his  heart  sank  within 
him. 


CHAPTER  VIII 


THE  REUNION  OF  THE  PARTY  OF  SIX 

A  FORTNIGHT  had  elapsed  since  the  marriage  of  Horace 
Sackville  and  Venetia  Trelawney;  and  in  the  evening  of  the 
10th  of  October  (for,  after  Byron's  example,  we  Uke  to  be 
particular  in  dates)  all  was  bustle  and  activity  at  the  house 
of  Colonel  Malpas  in  Great  Marlborough  Street. 

The  dining-room  was  brilliantly  lighted;  the  table  was 
laid  for  six  persons,  the  sideboard  exhibited  a  splendid 
dessert  in  crystal  dishes,  and  the  culinary  process  below- 
stairs  gave  promise  of  a  luxurious  banquet. 

At  about  a  quarter  to  six  o'clock  Colonel  Malpas,  dressed 
in  full  evening  costume,  descended  from  his  chamber  and 
cast  an  approving  eye  over  the  arrangements  in  the  dining- 
room.  Everything  was  to  his  perfect  satisfaction;  and  his 
butler  received  due  acknowledgments  for  the  taste  displayed 
in  the  preliminary  details  of  the  entertainment. 

"  It  does  you  infinite  credit,  Plumpstead,"  said  the 
colonel,  very  great  credit  indeed.  By  the  bye,  how  much 
am  I  indebted  to  you,  my  good  fellow?  " 

Only  two  years  and  a  half's  wages,  at  forty  guineas  a 
year,  sir,"  was  the  response;  but  though  Mr.  Plumpstead 
courteously  introduced  the  word  only,  it  must  by  no  means 
be  fancied  that  he  was  well  pleased  at  the  existence  of  these 
long  arrears. 

Ah!  that's  a  hundred  guineas,  Plumpstead,"  said  the 
colonel.  "  Well,  I  shall  settle  with  you  to-morrow,  you  may 
rely  upon  it." 

"  I  hope  you  will  not  forget  it,  sir,"  replied  the  butler, 
with  a  low  bow.  Then,  as  his  master  left  the  room,  he 
muttered  to  himself,  "The  cheating  scoundrel!  I  don't 
believe  I  shall  ever  see  the  colour  of  my  money.   I  can  take 

89 


90 


THE  COUKT  OF  LONDON 


my  oath  something  queer's  going  to  happen,  for  I  am  certain 
that  fellow  was  a  sheriff's  officer  who  called  this  morning  to 
ask  if  the  colonel  was  in  town.  And  by  the  bye,  I  forgot  to 
tell  master  of  it;  but  no  matter.  To-morrow  will  be  time 
enough." 

Thus  mused  Mr.  Plumpstead,  the  butler,  while  the  colonel 
ascended  the  well-lighted  staircase  to  the  drawing-room. 
There  he  surveyed  himself  from  head  to  foot  in  one  of  the 
handsome  mirrors;  and  as  he  caressed  his  moustache,  he 
complacently  observed,  "  Well,  I  certainly  am  good-looking 
enough  to  win  the  favours  of  even  such  a  transcendent  beauty 
as  Venetia  Trelawney." 

But  still  the  colonel  was  not  altogether  easy  in  his  mind. 
To  speak  more  plainly  still,  he  was  restless,  nervous,  and 
agitated.  It  was  true  that  he  had  succeeded  in  persuading 
his  wife  to  pay  a  visit  for  the  occasion  to  her  plebeian 
relatives  in  the  City,  —  for  be  it  remembered  that  he  had 
married  the  daughter  of  a  retired  butcher,  —  and  he  had  also 
managed  to  get  the  money  to  provide  the  sumptuous  banquet 
about  to  take  place.  But  the  satisfaction  arising  from  these 
achievements  was  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  des- 
perate hazards  and  risks  he  was  about  to  run,  and  into 
which  his  desperate  circumstances  had  impelled  him.  In 
fact,  he  was  knave  enough  to  concoct  any  villainy;  but  he 
was  somewhat  deficient  in  the  courage  necessary  to  carry 
it  out.  Therefore,  the  nearer  the  hour  approached  for 
executing  the  scheme  on  which  he  was  bent,  the  more 
nervous  did  he  become. 

In  addition  to  this,  Emmerson  had  compelled  him  to 
sign  a  note  of  hand,  payable  on  demand,  for  the  amount  of 
the  forged  bills.  This  note  was  given  on  the  morning  after 
the  scene  with  Lady  Curzon  at  Mrs.  Gale's;  thus  a  fortnight 
had  elapsed,  and  the  note  was  still  unpaid.  Two  or  three 
days  previous  to  the  evening  of  which  we  are  now  writing, 
Malpas  received  an  urgent  and  indeed  threatening  letter 
from  Mr.  Emmerson;  but  he  had  written  to  put  the  bill- 
broker  off  with  a  solemn  assurance  to  liquidate  the  whole 
sum  in  the  course  of  the  week.  His  only  hope  of  paying 
the  amount  existed  in  the  result  of  the  scheme  which 
he  had  now  in  hand,  and  in  furtherance  of  which  the 
banquet  was  to  be  given,  and  if  this  scheme  should 
fail,  utter  ruin  would  stare  him  in  the  face,  with  the 


REUNION  OF  THE  PARTY  OF  SIX  91 


concomitant  alternatives  of  flight  to  the  Continent  or  a 
debtor's  gaol. 

Such  was  the  position  wherein  Colonel  Malpas  was  placed, 
and  the  reader  requires  not  to  be  assured  that  it  was  far 
from  an  enviable  one.  Indeed,  that  self-sufficient  survey 
of  his  person  in  the  mirror  and  that  complacent  caressing 
of  the  moustache  were  only  the  sickly  attempt  of  an  agitated 
mind  to  persuade  itself  that  it  was  not  so  restless  as  it 
really  was,  in  the  same  way  that  a  guilty  person  who  trembles 
at  every  knock  at  the  door  endeavours  to  tranquillize  his 
fears  by  constantly  saying,  After  all,  it  is  impossible  I 
can  be  found  out.''  Thus  do  men,  in  difficult  and  dangerous 
circumstances,  invariably  strive  to  reason  themselves  out 
of  their  most  settled  convictions,  and  persuade  themselves 
that  the  feelings  which  torture  them  are  really  not  felt  at  all. 

But  to  return  to  the  thread  of  our  story. 

Precisely  at  six  o'clock  a  carriage  dashed  up  to  the  colonel's 
house,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  footman  flung  open  the 
drawing-room  door,  announcing,  in  a  loud  voice,  "  Sir 
Douglas  Huntingdon!  " 

The  colonel  hastened  forward  to  receive  him;  and  as 
they  shook  hands,  the  baronet  said,  with  a  gay  laugh, 
"  Well,  upon  my  word,  Malpas,  I  was  never  more  surprised 
in  all  my  life  than  when  I  received  your  note  of  invitation 
to  this  banquet." 

Is  there  anything  so  very  remarkable  in  my  having 
company?  "  observed  the  colonel,  affecting  a  happy  and 
good-humoured  smile.  Methinks,"  he  continued,  with 
his  wonted  drawing-room  drawl,  "  this  is  not  the  first  time 
I  shall  have  had  the  pleasure  of  entertaining  you,  Hunting- 
don; and  I  am  sure  I  hope  it  will  not  be  the  last." 

"  And  so  do  I,"  exclaimed  the  baronet,  flinging  himself 
upon  a  seat.  ''  But  your  note  enjoined  me  to  lay  aside  any 
other  engagement  I  might  have  formed,  inasmuch  as  this 
banquet  was  in  pursuance  of  the  agreement  entered  into  a 
month  ago  at  Leveson  House.  What,  then,  could  I  imagine, 
but  that,  after  all,  you  have  been  the  successful  candidate 
for  the  favours  of  the  lovely  Venetia?  " 

"  Well,  you  shall  see  presently,"  observed  Malpas,  assum- 
ing a  pleasant  look  of  mingled  significancy  and  triumph. 
^'  All  in  good  time,  you  know;  the  banquet  first,  and  business 
afterward." 


92  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


But  how  on  earth  could  Sackville  have  married  her?  " 
exclaimed  the  baronet,  evidently  bewildered  by  the  various 
thoughts  that  were  agitating  conflictingly  in  his  mind. 

Of  course  he  did  not  know  that  she  had  already  had  been 
won  by  you;  and,  if  he  comes  to-night,  I  should  think  the 
scene  will  be  rather  a  painful,  or,  at  all  events,  an  extraordi- 
nary one.  He  will  have  to  be  told  to  his  face  that  he  married 
a  woman  who,  with  all  her  enchanting  beauty,  was  no 
better  than  she  should  be  —  " 

At  this  moment  the  door  was  again  thrown  open,  and 
the  Earl  of  Curzon  was  announced. 

My  dear  Malpas,"  he  exclaimed,  "  is  it  a  fact?  —  or  is 
it  a  hoax?  It  is  assuredly  no  delusion  that  you  purpose 
to  give  us  a  banquet,  for  the  dining-room  door  stood  open 
as  I  passed  through  the  hall;  and  to  clear  up  the  misgivings 
which  had  haunted  me  ever  since  I  received  your  note  a 
few  days  back,  I  peeped  in  and  saw  covers  laid  for  six. 
Pardon  this  impertinence  on  my  part,  but  I  really  could 
not  help  thus  gratifying  my  curiosity  and  appeasing  my 
suspense." 

"  Well,  I  have  been  as  much  astonished  as  yourself, 
Curzon,"  said  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  while  the  colonel 
endeavoured  to  look  good-humouredly  knowing  and  com- 
placently mysterious.  But  I  was  observing  to  Malpas 
just  as  you  came  in,  what  an  ass  Sackville  has  either  made 
of  himself  or  else  will  be  made  to  appear  to-night." 

"  I  don't  think  he  will  come,"  exclaimed  the  Earl  of 
Curzon.  "  In  fact,  he  can  not;  he  would  never  dare  show 
his  face  amongst  us.  He  will  be  too  much  ashamed  of 
himself,  and  will  never  stand  all  the  bantering  he  must  expect 
for  being  so  egregiously  duped.  For  my  part,  I  think  Venetia 
is  a  deuced  deal  worse  than  he  must  even  suspect  after 
receiving  Malpas's  note  —  But,  by  the  bye,  did  you  send 
him  one?  "  asked  the  nobleman,  turning  toward  the  colonel. 

"  To  be  sure  I  did,"  was  the  response.  "  Was  I  not  bound 
to  do  so  in  accordance  with  the  agreement  made  at  Leveson 
House?  " 

As  a  matter  of  course,"  observed  Huntingdon.  "  But 
what  do  you  mean,  Curzon,"  he  inquired,  evidently  struck 
by  something  the  nobleman  had  said,  "  when  you  state 
that  Venetia  is  worse  than  her  husband  can  even  suspect 
her  to  be  after  receiving  Malpas's  note  of  invitation?  " 


REUNION  OF  THE  PARTY  OF  SIX  93 


"  I  mean,"  replied  the  earl,  that  I  am  very  much  mis- 
taken if  —  " 

But  he  stopped  short  as  the  door  was  again  thrown  open 
and  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  made  his  appearance. 

Malpas  hastened  to  welcome  the  old  debauchee,  who, 
after  shaking  hands  with  Curzon  and  Sir  Douglas,  drew  the 
colonel  aside,  saying,  "  I'm  really  afraid  this  will  turn  out 
an  unpleasant  business." 

"  How  do  you  mean?  "  inquired  Malpas,  a  cold  terror 
seizing  upon  him. 

Because  it  must  produce  a  quarrel  between  you  and 
Sackville." 

No  such  thing.  If  he  were  fool  enough  to  be  gulled  into 
a  marriage  with  a  woman  who  had  previously  surrendered 
herself  to  me  —  " 

"  There  is  some  force  in  your  argument,"  interrupted 
Lord  Leveson;  but  let  us  look  well  at  the  matter  so  as  to 
anticipate,  if  possible,  any  dispute  with  Sackville,  which 
might  give  pubUcity  to  the  thing." 

Oh,  for  his  own  sake,  he  will  not  let  the  world  know 
what  a  fool  he  has  been,"  said  the  colonel,  evidently  anxious 
to  escape  from  the  colloquy  into  which  the  marquis  was 
drawing  him. 

At  all  events,  let  us  talk  it  over,  Malpas,"  persisted 
the  nobleman;  and  leading  him  still  farther  toward  the 
extremity  of  the  spacious  drawing-room,  he  proceeded  to 
argue  upon  the  necessity  of  caution,  but  evidently  with 
the  more  interested  object  of  extracting  from  the  colonel 
all  the  particulars  relative  to  his  presumed  triumph  over 
Venetia. 

Meanwhile  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  had  drawn  the  Earl 
of  Curzon  aside  to  the  other  extremity  of  the  drawing-room; 
and  looking  him  earnestly  in  the  face,  he  said,  "  What 
was  the  observation  you  were  about  to  make  when  Leveson 
arrived?  " 

Well,  I  hardly  know  whether  I  ought  to  give  utterance 
to  my  suspicions,"  returned  the  earl,  in  a  musing  tone; 
^'  but  in  confidence  between  you  and  me,  I  have  every  reason 
to  believe  that  Venetia  abandoned  herself  to  the  Marquis 
of  Leveson  and  the  Prince  of  Wales  —  " 

"  And  I  have  entertained  precisely  the  same  suspicions," 
interrupted  the  baronet. 


94 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  The  devil  you  have!  "  said  the  earl,  in  surprise.  "  But 
how  on  earth  —  " 

"  I  know  what  you  are  going  to  say/'  remarked  the 
baronet,  with  a  smile  of  pecuUar  meaning;  and  may  I 
not  also  inquire  how  on  earth  you  came  to  glean  your 
information  on  those  points?  Come,  let  us  be  candid  with 
each  other." 

"  WiUingly,"  said  the  earl.       In  plain  terms,  then,  I 
bribed  Tash  and  his  man  Robin  to  watch  Venetia  —  " 
"  So  did  I,"  responded  the  baronet. 

"  Well!  this  is  excellent!  "  remarked  Curzon.  "  And 
they  informed  you  that  Venetia  went  to  Leveson  House 
and  Carlton  Palace  on  the  same  night?  " 

Precisely  so,"  returned  the  baronet.  "  But  they  also 
gave  me  a  version  of  Malpas's  interview  with  Venetia  in 
Lady  Wenlock's  grounds  at  Kew,  which  does  not  very  well 
tally  with  his  boasted  triumph  over  her." 

And  they  gave  me  a  similarly  puzzling  account  of  that 
interview,"  rejoined  Curzon.  "  In  fact,  it  is  this  that  has 
so  much  perplexed  me.  I  do  not  know  what  to  think. 
Either  Tash  or  Malpas  must  he  most  tremendously." 

"  The  affair  is  curiously  involved,"  observed  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon;  "  and  its  details  are  intricate  to  a  degree. 
Malpas  never  would  be  fool  and  scoundrel  enough  —  " 

"  1  have  no  very  exalted  opinion  of  him,"  said  the  earl, 
"  and  you  must  remember  there  are  six  thousand  guineas 
at  stake.  Leveson  is  treasurer;  and  we  will  not  allow  him 
to  part  with  the  money  unless  Malpas  can  give  us  the  most 
positive  and  undeniable  proofs  that  he  really  succeeded  in 
being  the  first  to  win  the  favours  of  Venetia.  What  induces 
me  to  fancy  that  he  might  have  done  so  is  that  Venetia 
evidently  abandoned  herself  to  Leveson  and  the  prince,  — 
on  the  same  evening,  too;  and  therefore  she  is  thoroughly 
depraved." 

But  why  should  she  have  rejected  you  and  me?  "  asked 
the  baronet.  "  At  all  events,  if  money  be  her  object,  you 
could  have  given  her  as  much  as  Malpas;  and  if  good  looks 
be  concerned,  I  may  add,  without  flattery,  that  you  ought 
to  have  stood  a  better  chance  than  he." 

At  this  moment  the  door  was  thrown  open;  and  the 
domestic  announced  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent. 

Malpas,  instantaneously  quitting  Lord  Leveson,  advanced 


REUNION  OF  THE  PARTY  OF  SIX  95 


to  meet  the  prince,  who  shook  hands  with  him  as  cordially 
as  ever,  despite  the  angry  declaration  which  he  had  made  to 
Venetia,  the  night  of  her  visit  to  Carlton  Palace,  to  the  effect 
that  the  colonel  was  a  sneaking  scoundrel  and  would  do 
well  never  to  show  himself  in  his  royal  presence  again.  Thus 
was  it,  however,  that  the  royal  presence  was  now  vouch- 
safed at  the  colonel's  dweUing,  notwithstanding  the  menace 
alluded  to. 

After  exchanging  a  few  words  with  Malpas  on  ordinary 
topics,  and  without  the  sUghtest  mention  of  Venetians 
name,  the  prince  regent  suddenly  turned  toward  Leveson, 
saying,  "  By  the  bye,  my  dear  marquis,  I  have  a  few 
words  to  whisper  in  your  ear,  —  on  a  poHtical  matter; 
and  I  hope  Malpas  will  excuse  my  rudeness  in  taking  you 
aside." 

"  Your  Royal  Highness  is  the  master  here  as  elsewhere," 
said  the  colonel;  and,  caressing  his  moustache,  he  proceeded 
to  join  the  Earl  of  Curzon  and  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon. 

The  prince  took  Leveson's  arm  and  lounged  with  him 
toward  the  end  of  the  room;  then,  in  a  low  tone,  he  said, 

What  the  devil  is  the  meaning  of  all  this?  " 

I  cannot  understand  it,"  responded  the  marquis.  "  It 
seems  tolerably  clear  that  Malpas  has  achieved  a  triumph; 
and  I  believe  it,  because  when  Venetia  came  to  my  house 
she  told  me  that  the  colonel  had  made  her  acquainted  with 
all  the  particulars  of  the  love-campaign." 

"  She  told  me  precisely  the  same  thing,"  observed  the 
prince;  but  she  spoke  of  Malpas  at  the  time  in  terms  of 
contempt  and  disgust." 

"  That  may  have  been  an  artifice,"  said  Lord  Leveson. 
"  Malpas  assures  me  he  shall  produce  the  most  undeniable 
evidence  of  his  success,  but  what  the  evidence  is  he  would 
not  explain  at  present.  Venetia  must  be  as  deceptive  and 
designing  as  she  is  beautiful." 

"  I  really  begin  to  think  so,"  observed  the  prince.  "  It 
was  my  intention  to  cut  Malpas  for  ever;  but  when  I  received 
his  note  of  invitation  to  this  banquet,  and  understood  the 
meaning  it  implied,  I  was  positively  astounded.  I  therefore 
resolved  to  suspend  my  opinion  altogether  until  the  events 
of  this  evening  should  have  transpired.  But  I  am  seriously 
afraid  that  Sackville  has  made  a  great  fool  of  himself,  and 
is  inveigled  into  a  match  with  an  unprincipled  adventuress, — 


96  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


most  probably  head  and  ears  in  debt,  and  only  anxious  to 
get  a  husband  in  order  to  throw  the  burden  of  her  liabilities 
upon  his  shoulders  and  thus  save  herself  from  prison." 

"  It  looks  uncommonly  like  it,"  observed  the  marquis. 

"  By  the  bye,  any  news  of  the  gossamer  lady?  "  asked  the 
prince,  with  a  smile. 

"  None,  sir,"  responded  the  nobleman,  his  looks  becoming 
clouded  all  in  a  moment;  but  instantaneously  recovering 
his  composure,  he  said,  "  Does  your  Royal  Highness  know 
whether  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sackville  have  returned  to  town?  " 

"  I  do  not,"  answered  the  prince.  But  perhaps  Malpas 
can  tell  us."  Then,  advancing  toward  the  centre  of  the 
room,  he  said,  Colonel,  do  you  know  whether  the  Sack- 
villes  have  returned  from  Brighton?  " 

"  They  came  back  last  night,  sir,"  exclaimed  the  Earl  of 
Curzon,  "  and  proceeded  to  Acacia  Cottage." 

"  You  had  that  information  from  our  friend  Tash," 
whispered  the  baronet,  hurriedly.  "  He  sent  Robin  to  me 
late  last  night  with  the  same  intelligence." 

"  Do  you  think  Sackville  will  join  our  party?  "  inquired 
the  prince. 

I  have  received  no  answer  to  my  invitation,"  said  the 
colonel. 

For  my  part,  I  do  not  think  he  will  make  his  appear- 
ance," observed  the  Earl  of  Curzon. 

Nor  I,"  added  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon.  "  He  must  be 
heartily  ashamed  of  himself,  no  doubt." 

And  would  not  like  to  face  us,  eh?  "  said  the  Marquis 
of  Leveson. 

"  He  fears,  perhaps,  a  terrible  bantering,"  observed  the 
prince  regent. 

''It  is  now  half -past  six,"  said  the  colonel,  consulting  his 
watch;  "  and  that  is  the  time  named  in  the  note  of  invita- 
tion.   Shall  1  order  dinner  to  be  served  up?  " 

But  ere  the  prince,  to  whom  the  question  was  put,  had 
time  to  answer,  the  door  was  again  thrown  open,  and  the 
servant  announced  Mr.  Horace  Sackville. 


CHAPTER  IX 


THE  BANQUET 

Venetians  husband  advanced  into  the  room  with  the 
easy  assurance  and  calm  self-possession  of  good  breeding, 
and  as  if  there  were  nothing  peculiar  either  in  his  own 
position  or  in  the  circumstances  of  the  present  occasion. 
Having  paid  his  respects  to  Colonel  Malpas,  who  could  very- 
well  have  dispensed  with  his  company,  Horace  turned  toward 
the  prince,  and  his  Royal  Highness  shook  him  with  all  his 
wonted  cordiality  by  the  hand.  The  Marquis  of  Leveson  and 
Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  were  equally  warm  in  their  greet- 
ings; whereas  the  Earl  of  Curzon  was  not  only  somewhat 
cold  and  distant,  but  likewise  suffered  a  partial  sneer  to 
curl  his  lips  as  he  spoke.  Sackville  did  not,  however,  seem 
to  notice  this  manifestation  of  ill-feeling,  but,  turning  again 
toward  the  others,  he  proceeded  to  discourse,  without 
constraint  or  embarrassment,  upon  the  principal  topics  of 
the  day. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  domestic  announced  that  dinner 
was  served,  and  the  party  repaired  to  the  banqueting-room. 

The  repast  was  of  the  most  succulent  description,  fully 
equalling  that  of  which  the  same  company  had  partaken 
at  Lord  Leveson's.  The  wines  were  of  the  fi  quality,  and 
the  dessert  was  not  less  commendable  to  the  tastes  of  the 
convivialists.  During  the  banquet  not  a  word  was  spoken 
in  reference  to  the  object  of  the  meeting,  and  not  an  allusion 
made  to  it.  But  the  discourse  was  sustained,  as  if  by  a 
common  consent,  on  a  variety  of  other  subjects.  Never- 
theless, everybody  did  in  his  heart  feel  that  unless  these 
efforts  were  made  to  support  the  conversation  uninter- 
ruptedly, the  damp  of  constraint  would  speedily  fall  upon 
their  spirits.  As  for  Colonel  Malpas,  he  drank  large  quantities 

97 


98 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


of  wine  in  order  to  keep  up  an  artificial  gaiety;  but  the 
nearer  the  moment  arrived  for  the  grand  act  in  the  drama, 
the  more  nervous  and  apprehensive  did  he  in  reaUty 
become. 

At  length  the  cloth  was  drawn,  the  dessert  was  placed 
upon  the  table,  and  the  domestics  retired. 

It  was  now  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening;  and 
Mr.  Plumpstead,  the  butler,  opening  the  front  door,  looked 
up  and  down  Great  Marlborough  Street,  by  the  light  of  the 
lamps.  In  a  few  minutes  three  persons  descended  from  a 
private  carriage  at  a  little  distance;  and,  having  directed 
that  the  vehicle  should  wait  for  their  return,  they  hurried 
to  the  door  at  which  the  butler  was  standing. 

These  three  persons  were  Venetia,  Captain  Tash,  and  his 
man  Robin. 

The  lady  was  elegantly  dressed  and  looked  enchantingly 
beautiful,  as  if  she  had  even  derived  a  more  brilliant  love- 
liness from  matrimony.  Captain  Tash  was  in  full  evening 
costume,  with  dress  coat,  white  waistcoat  and  cravat,  and 
kid  gloves.  His  aspect  was  uncommonly  fierce  as  usual,  but 
blended  therewith  was  an  air  of  supreme  importance. 
As  for  Robin,  he  was  decently  attired;  but  the  purple  robes 
of  Napoleon  could  not  have  imparted  dignity  to  his  shambling 
gait  and  sneaking  looks. 

Hush!  "  said  the  butler,  putting  his  finger  to  his  lips 
in  a  knowing  manner,  the  instant  Venetia  and  her  two  com- 
panions ascended  the  steps;  ''it  is  all  right.  Mr.  Sackville 
has  told  me  of  your  coming,  and  he's  a  real  gentleman. 
He  wouldn't  owe  two  years  and  a  half's  wages  to  a  poor 
butler,  I'll  be  bound." 

Having  somewhat  relieved  his  feelings  by  this  indirect 
cut  at  his  master,  Mr.  Plumpstead  admitted  Venetia,  Captain 
Tash,  and  Robin  into  the  house,  gently  closing  the  front 
door. 

"  Now,  ma'am,  what  can  I  do  for  you  next?  "  he  inquired 
of  Venetia.  ''  Mr.  Sackville  has  done  what's  right  toward 
me." 

''  He  has  proposed  to  take  you  into  his  service?  "  said 
Venetia. 

He  has,  ma'am;  and  therefore  I  already  regard  you  as 
my  missus." 

'*  Can  you  manage  to  leave  the  dining-room  door  a  little 


THE  BANQUET 


99 


ajar,"  inquired  Venetia,  "  so  that  I  may  overhear  what 
takes  place  within?  " 

Certainly,  ma'am,"  responded  Plumpstead.  "  Be  so 
good  as  to  remain  here  quite  quiet;  there's  no  fear  of  any 
one  coming  out  of  the  dining-room,  and  if  any  of  the  other 
servants  should  see  you  in  the  hall,  they  won't  say  a  word. 
I've  given  them  a  hint  upon  the  subject." 

Thus  speaking,  Plumpstead  cast  a  glance  upon  the  hall 
table  in  search  of  some  object  which  should  furnish  a  pretext 
for  entering  the  dining-room;  and  taking  up  a  crystal  jug, 
filled  with  water,  he  -threw  his  napkin  half-round  it  in  the 
true  butler-fashion,  and  carried  it  in.  As  he  placed  it  upon 
the  table.  Colonel  Malpas  said,  "  You  need  not  come  in 
any  more  until  I  ring." 

"  Very  good,  sir,"  replied  Plumpstead;  and  he  paused 
for  a  few  instants  to  open  a  large  screen  and  draw  it  around 
the  door,  apparently  to  keep  out  the  draught,  but  in 
reality  to  hide  the  door  itself. 

Then,  issuing  from  the  room,  he  caused  the  door  to  sound 
as  if  it  were  being  shut,  whereas  he  left  it  ajar.  Captain 
Tash,  Venetia,  and  Robin  were  thus  enabled  to  overhear  in 
the  hall  whatever  took  place  in  the  dining-room. 

The  critical  moment  had  now  arrived  for  Colonel  Malpas 
to  carry  out  the  daring  scheme  which  he  had  concocted; 
and  when  it  became  evident  that  he  was  about  to  rise  and 
speak,  the  looks  of  his  guests  were  fixed  upon  him  with  an 
expression  of  intense  interest. 

Tossing  off  a  bumper  of  port,  he  rose  and  said,  "  May 
it  please  your  Royal  Highness,  and  you,  my  lords  and 
gentlemen,  it  would  ill  become  me  to  act  as  chairman  or 
president  at  a  meeting  in  which  I  am  about  to  perform  a 
somewhat  prominent  part.  I  therefore  suggest  that  our 
esteemed  treasurer,  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  shall  preside 
over  our  proceedings." 

"  A  very  excellent  suggestion,"  observed  the  prince 
regent.  "  Of  course  you  all  agree.  Good!  Come,  take 
the  chair,  Leveson." 

Colonel  Malpas  accordingly  resigned  his  seat  at  the  head 
of  the  table  to  the  marquis,  and  took  the  one  which  this 
nobleman  had  hitherto  occupied  next  to  the  prince  regent. 

Now,"  said  Lord  Leveson,  as  he  drew  forth  his  pocket- 
book  and  counted  down  six  bank-notes,  each  for  a  thousand 


100  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


pounds,  afterward  placing  a  purse  full  of  gold  upon  them, 
"  here  are  the  six  thousand  guineas  which  I  have  held  as 
treasurer,  and  which  I  am  prepared  to  pay  into  the  hands 
of  the  fortunate  individual  who  shall  prove  his  right  and  title 
to  the  same,  according  to  the  terms  of  our  compact.  But 
I  must  observe,  as  your  chairman,  that  I  hope  our  pro- 
ceedings will  be  conducted  with  the  utmost  good-humour, 
and  that  each  and  all  will  preserve  a  calm  temper,  no  matter 
what  may  transpire." 

"  A  bumper  to  ratify  that  most  judicious  sentiment!  " 
exclaimed  the  dissipated  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon. 

"  And  now,''  resumed  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  when  the 
glasses  had  been  filled  and  emptied,  "  it  becomes  my  painful 
duty  to  ask  our  young  and  esteemed  friend,  Mr.  Sackville, 
whether,  as  the  husband  of  the  lady  whose  name  will  have 
to  be  mentioned  presently,  and  whose  image  is  doubtless 
in  all  our  minds,  he  has  any  remark  to  make  ere  our  proceed- 
ings continue  any  further?  " 

"  For  the  moment  I  have  only  a  suggestion  to  offer," 
replied  Horace,  speaking  in  a  firm  tone;  which  is,  that 
your  lordship  shall  take  the  names  in  the  order  they  issued 
from  the  ballot,  and  each  shall  answer  yea  or  nay,  as 
explanatory  of  the  result  of  his  suit  in  respect  to  the  lady 
alluded  to." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  the  Marquis  of  Leveson;  "  and  I  think 
the  suggestion  is  a  good  one.  According  to  the  ballot,  the 
names  stood  in  the  following  order:  Monday,  the  Earl  of 
Curzon;  Tuesday,  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon;  Wednesday, 
Colonel  Malpas;  Thursday,  the  prince  regent;  Friday, 
the  Marquis  of  Leveson;  Saturday,  Mr.  Sackville.  Accord- 
ing, then,  to  this  category,  I  call  upon  the  Earl  of  Curzon  to 
speak  first." 

I  am  bound  to  admit,  frankly  and  candidly,"  replied 
this  nobleman,  "  that  I  experienced  no  success  in  the  matter 
alluded  to." 

Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon!  "  exclaimed  the  Marquis  of 
Leveson. 

"  With  equal  frankness  and  candour,  I  declare  that  I 
was  as  unsuccessful  as  Lord  Curzon,"  answered  the  baronet. 

Colonel  Malpas!  "  exclaimed  the  marquis. 

My  lord,"  said  that  individual,  rising  from  his  chair, 
and  speaking  in  a  voice  which  borrowed  its  calmness  from 


THE  BANQUET 


101 


desperation,  "  I  am  bound,  however  painful  the  announce- 
ment may  be  to  any  friend  present,  —  and  seeing  the 
peculiar  nature  of  the  circumstances  which  were  initiated 
in  an  after-dinner  frolic,  I  hope  there  will  be  no  loss  of 
friendship  on  this  account,  —  I  am  bound,  I  say,  to  declare 
that  the  result  of  my  campaign  made  me  for  the  time  being 
the  happiest  of  men." 

Having  thus  spoken,  the  colonel  resumed  his  chair  and 
immediately  tossed  off  a  bumper  of  wine. 

Let  the  names  be  called  to  the  end  of  the  list,"  said 
Horace  Sackville,  whose  face  was  white  as  a  sheet,  but 
whose  voice  was  nevertheless  marked  by  a  firm  decision. 

"  Be  it  so,"  exclaimed  the  Marquis  of  Leveson.  The 
prince  regent! " 

"  On  my  honour,  as  a  man  and  a  gentleman,  setting  aside 
my  rank  for  the  present,"  returned  his  Royal  Highness, 

I  cannot  boast  of  having  been  blessed  with  the  favours 
of  the  lady  alluded  to." 

The  Earl  of  Curzon  and  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  exchanged 
rapid  looks,  expressive  of  surprise  at  this  announcement, 
the  truth  of  which  they  could  not  doubt;  they  therefore 
both  fell  back  upon  the  belief  that  Captain  Tash  must  have 
deceived  them  in  his  representation  of  Venetia's  visit  to 
Carlton  House. 

"  My  own  name  stands  next  upon  the  Hst,"  said  the 
Marquis  of  Leveson,  "  and  my  explanation  is  precisely  the 
same  as  that  already  given  by  his  Royal  Highness."  Then 
after  a  moment's  pause,  he  observed,  with  a  half-smile, 
"  Mr.  Sackville,  am  I  to  call  upon  you?  " 

Most  assuredly,"  returned  Horace,  his  cheeks  now 
slightly  flushing,  and  his  voice  remaining  imperturbably 
calm.  "  I  wooed  Venetia  —  and  I  won  her.  She  is  my  wife. 
But  if  Colonel  Malpas  can  prove  that  previously  to  our 
wedding-day  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  favours  of  her 
whom  I  have  thus  made  my  wife,  I  cannot  possibly,  under 
the  very  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  case,  be  offended 
with  him.  Seeing,  however,  that  so  far  as  I  am  concerned 
a  love-campaign  which  commenced  as  an  after-dinner  frolic 
has  terminated  in  the  most  serious  and  solemn  manner 
for  myself,  —  namely  in  marriage,  —  I  hope  that  Colonel 
Malpas  will  not  stand  forward  to  blast  the  reputation  of  my 
wife  without  having  irrefragable  evidence  to  produce  in 


102  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


support  of  his  assertion;  and  I  likewise  hope  that  you, 
whom  I  now  address,  will  not  consider  that  the  present 
scene  is  nothing  more  than  another  act  in  the  same  after- 
dinner  farce,  but  that  you  will  treat  the  matter  with  all 
the  solemnity  and  seriousness  that  should  characterize  a 
jury  of  honourable  men." 

There  was  a  tone  of  deep  feeling  in  this  speech  which 
produced  a  visible  effect  upon  all  present;  and  the  Earl  of 
Curzon,  now  that  his  heart  was  somewhat  warmed  by  the 
generous  wine,  was  the  very  first  to  exclaim,  "  By  Heaven, 
Sackville,  you  shall  have  fair  play!  "  This  sentiment  was 
echoed  by  the  prince  regent,  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  and 
Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon;  while  Malpas,  whose  heart  was 
sinking  within  his  breast,  tossed  off  two  or  three  glasses  of 
wine  in  rapid  succession. 

But  still  sustained  to  a  considerable  degree  by  the  courage 
which  often  arises  from  the  desperation  of  a  neck-or-nothing 
position,  he  rose  from  his  seat  amidst  a  profound  silence, 
and  spoke  as  follows: 

"  Far  be  it  from  me  to  make  a  declaration  of  so  serious 
and  solemn  a  nature  as  that  which  I  have  put  forth  without 
being  enabled  to  substantiate  it.  Hitherto  we  have  all  of 
us  been  apt  to  deal  lightly  enough  with  the  reputation  of 
women;  and  we  should  doubtless  have  continued  to  do  so 
in  the  present  instance,  were  it  not  that  the  lady  in  question 
has  recently  married  one  of  our  party,  and  that  the  husband 
himself  is  present.  I  will  make  no  lengthy  comment  upon 
what  I  may  term  the  imprudence,  if  not  the  actual  indehcacy, 
of  Mr.  Sackville  appearing  amongst  us  under  existing  cir- 
cumstances; but  I  cannot  help  adding  that  whatever  state- 
ments he  may  now  hear  to  shock  his  feelings,  he  himself  to 
some  extent  courts  the  feelings  they  are  thus  calculated  to 
excite." 

He  paused  for  a  few  instants;  and  those  who  glanced 
furtively  at  Horace  Sackville  saw  that  he  was  evidently 
labouring  under  the  influence  of  emotions  which  he  had 
some  little  trouble  to  restrain.  His  cheeks  had  a  hectic 
flush,  like  that  of  fever,  upon  them,  his  eyes  were  fixed,  but 
unnaturally  bright,  and  his  lips  were  firmly  compressed. 
His  whole  appearance  indicated  the  inevitable  bursting 
forth  of  a  terrific  storm;  it  was  the  volcano  as  yet  sleeping, 
but  surrounded  by  the  fever-heat  that  preludes  an  explosion. 


THE  BANQUET 


103 


I  will  now  proceed  to  my  proofs/'  resumed  Malpas, 
who  alone  mistook  Sackville's  ominous  looks  and  guarded 
silence  for  the  evidences  of  a  crushed  and  broken  spirit. 
"  You  are  aware  that  my  day  for  the  love-campaign  was  a 
Wednesday.  On  the  previous  day  I  chanced  to  call  upon 
Lady  Wenlock  at  Kew;  and  in  the  course  of  conversation 
her  ladyship  mentioned  that  the  most  celebrated  beauty  of 
the  day,  Miss  Venetia  Trelawney  (as  her  name  then  was, 
previously  to  her  marriage),  was  to  be  at  the  horticultural 
fete  announced  by  her  ladyship  for  the  ensuing  evening. 
Having  already  received  an  invitation,  I  resolved  to  be 
there.  On  the  Wednesday  morning  I  met  Mr.  Sackville 
by  accident,  and  told  him  I  should  be  at  the  fete,  in  order 
to  avail  myself  thereof  to  procure  an  introduction  to  Miss 
Trelawney.  Mr.  Sackville  must  remember  the  circum- 
stance." 

Perfectly,"  said  Horace,  in  a  cold  but  untrembling  voice. 

I  did  repair  to  that  festival,"  continued  the  colonel, 
"  and  I  obtained  the  wished-for  introduction  to  Miss  Tre- 
lawney, as  she  then  was.  I  need  not  enter  into  particulars. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  we  walked  together  in  a  secluded  avenue, 
allowing  the  ladies  who  accompanied  her  —  Mrs.  and  Miss 
Arbuthnot,  I  believe  —  to  proceed  a  considerable  distance 
ahead.  My  suit,  which  I  pleaded  passionately,  was  success- 
ful, and  Miss  Trelawney  gave  me  an  appointment  for  the 
ensuing  Friday  evening,  at  a  place  which  I  named." 

^*  Friday  evening!  "  ejaculated  the  Marquis  of  Leveson, 
exchanging  a  rapid  but  meaning  glance  with  the  Prince  of 
Wales. 

Yes,  the  Friday  evening,"  returned  Malpas;  "  and 
consequently  before  Mr.  Sackville's  marriage  with  the 
lady,  which  marriage  took  place  on  the  ensuing  Wednesday. 
One  more  word  will  suffice:  Miss  Trelawney  met  me  on 
the  Friday  evening  alluded  to  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Gale  in 
Soho  Square." 

At  what  o'clock?  "  inquired  the  Marquis  of  Leveson. 

"  At  nine  o'clock,"  responded  Malpas. 

"  And  how  long  did  she  remain  with  you  at  Mrs.  Gale's?  " 
asked  Lord  Leveson,  with  another  rapid,  but  now  astonished 
look,  at  the  prince  regent.  Let  us  have  all  the  circum- 
stances stated  in  detail  and  accurately  recorded,"  he 
observed,  making  notes  in  his  pocketbook. 


104  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Miss  Trelawney  remained  with  me  at  Mrs.  Gale's  from 
nine  mi  til  past  eleven  on  that  Friday  evening/'  returned 
Colonel  Malpas. 

"  But  the  proof  of  this?  "  said  the  marquis,  inquiringly. 

"  Here  is  Mrs.  Gale's  own  certificate  of  the  fact,"  answered 
the  colonel,  tossing  a  folded  paper  toward  the  marquis. 
"  I  have  no  more  to  say,"  and  he  resumed  his  seat. 

The  Marquis  of  Leveson  opened  the  paper;  and  the 
astonishment  he  already  felt  was  enhanced  when  he  recog- 
nized Mrs.  Gale's  handwriting,  which  was  perfectly  famihar 
to  him.  He  had  expected  to  find  the  document  a  forgery; 
but  there  was  no  doubt  it  was  genuine,  although  the  circum- 
stances detailed  in  it  might  not  be  true,  for  all  that. 

Yes,  this  is  Mrs.  Gale's  handwriting,"  he  said.  "  I 
know  and  can  attest  it." 

He  then  read  the  paper,  which  set  forth  that  Colonel 
Malpas  and  Miss  Venetia  Trelawney  (now  Mrs.  Sackville) 
had  passed  two  hours  together  at  her  establishment,  between 
nine  and  eleven  o'clock,  on  the  night  of  Friday,  September 
20,  1814. 

Malpas  now  felt  assured  that  his  triumph  was  complete; 
for  Horace  Sackville  still  remained  silent  and  motionless, 
with  the  fever  spots  burning  upon  his  cheeks  and  his  lips 
quivering. 

The  marquis  and  the  prince  once  more  exchanged  looks 
of  ineffable  astonishment,  as  if  uncertain  what  course  to 
pursue,  and  yet  having  it  in  their  power  to  make  some 
startUng  revelations;  while  the  Earl  of  Curzon  whispered 
hurriedly  to  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  "  You  see  how  that 
rascal  Tash  deceived  us  both!  " 

But  all  on  a  sudden  the  door  was  thrown  open  with  such 
violence  that  the  screen  was  nearly  upset,  and  Venetia 
herself,  followed  by  Captain  Tash,  entered  the  room.  Robin 
was  not,  however,  with  them;  he  had  been  hastily  despatched 
on  some  errand,  the  nature  of  which  will  speedily  transpire. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  grandeur  of  Venetia's  beauty 
at  this  moment.  Her  splendid  form  was  drawn  up  to  the 
full  of  its  noble  height,  and,  as  her  carriage  now  seemed 
statuesque  as  that  of  a  sculptured  Juno,  by  her  shoulders 
being  thrown  back  and  her  head  being  held  erect,  her  superb 
bust  displayed  its  ample  development  to  the  fullest  advan- 
tage.   Upheaved  in  its  luxuriant  proportions,  it  seemed 


THE  BANQUET 


105 


ready  to  burst  through  the  drapery  that  outhned  its  sweUing 
contours;  while  the  glowing  cheeks,  flashing  eyes,  dilating 
nostrils,  and  Hps  apart,  threw  the  spell  of  an  almost  Olympian 
majesty  upon  her  transcending  charms. 

Every  one  present,  save  Sackville,  started  from  his  seat 
as  the  beauteous  lady  and  her  formidable-looking  companion 
made  their  appearance;  while  Horace  himself  rose  gently 
and  leisurely,  his  features  now  illumined  with  the  radiance 
of  approaching  triumph.  As  for  Colonel  Malpas,  guilt  and 
cowardice  were  as  legibly  depicted  upon  his  ashy  cheeks 
and  in  his  affrighted  looks  as  ever  the  words  themselves  were 
printed  on  the  page  of  a  volume. 

Your  Royal  Highness,  my  lords,  gentlemen,"  said 
Venetia,  in  a  tone  which,  though  firm,  was  filled  with  all  the 
flutehke  harmony  of  her  soul-seeking  voice,  you  have 
listened  to  the  tale  of  accusation:  now  do  me  the  justice 
to  hear  the  defence." 

Most  assuredly!  "  exclaimed  the  prince  regent.  My 
lord,"  he  added,  turning  toward  Leveson,  "  whatever  dis- 
appointment you  may  have  experienced  relative  to  this 
lady,  justice  must  be  done  her.  You  are  the  chairman  of 
the  meeting,  and  I  know  you  will  do  your  duty." 

"  Beyond  all  doubt,"  said  the  marquis,  who  was  so  dazzled 
and  overpowered  by  the  enchanting  loveliness  and  Juno- 
hke  majesty  of  Venetia's  appearance  that  he  forgot  all  the 
resentment  excited  by  the  scene  which  had  occurred  at  his 
own  house,  he  no  longer  remembered  the  incidents  of  the 
treacherous  chair,  but  he  felt  suddenly  inclined  to  do  any- 
thing or  everything  on  behalf  of  that  woman  of  superhuman 
charms.  "  Let  us  all  be  seated,"  he  exclaimed.  "  Horace, 
hand  your  wife  a  chair,  and  Captain  Tash  —  " 

But  the  gallant  officer  had  already  dropped  into  a  seat 
and  was  stretching  forth  his  hand  to  grasp  the  nearest 
decanter,  before  the  marquis  had  time  to  utter  another 
syllable.  The  captain  likewise  drew  toward  him  three  or 
four  dishes  of  cakes  and  fruits;  and  as  he  began  to  eat  and 
drink  with  as  much  coolness  and  absence  of  restraint  as  if 
the  house  were  his  own,  he  said,  Go  on,  my  lord;  I  can 
always  hear  best  when  profitably  employed." 

Malpas  made  a  last  effort  to  assume  an  air  of  confidence; 
and  by  way  of  conciliating  the  formidable  captain,  whom 
he  knew  to  be  his  enemy,  but  whose  presence  on  this  occasion 


106  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


he  could  not  account  for,  he  said,  "  Make  yourself  at  home, 
and  don't  spare  the  wine." 

"  Mrs.  Sackville,"  exclaimed  the  Marquis  of  Leveson, 

we  are  ready  to  hear  you." 

It  will  be  sufficient  for  me,  my  lord,"  answered  Venetia, 

simply  but  emphatically  to  deny  the  calumnious  aspersion 
thrown  upon  me  by  Colonel  Malpas.  My  husband  is  the 
proper  person  to  conduct  my  defence." 

First  of  all,  then,"  said  Horace  Sackville,  "  I  shall 
request  Captain  Tash  to  state  whatever  he  knows  of  the 
interview  between  Colonel  Malpas  and  my  wife  at  Lady 
Wenlock's." 

With  much  pleasure,"  observed  the  gallant  officer, 
filling  a  tumbler  with  port  wine  and  draining  it  at  a  draught, 
—  for  he  contemptuously  eschewed  the  paltry  size  of  an 
ordinary  wine-glass.  "  On  the  particular  Wednesday  night 
alluded  to  by  Colonel  Malpas,  —  for  I  must  tell  you  that  I 
have  been  listening  outside  the  door  to  everything  he  has 
been  saying,  —  myself  and  my  man  Robin,  who  is  a  faithful 
creature,  were  concealed  amongst  the  bushes  in  Lady  Wen- 
lock's  grounds.  Why  we  were  there,  doesn't  matter,"  he 
continued,  darting  a  sly  look  at  Lord  Curzon  and  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon;  ''it  is  enough  to  state  that  we  were  there. 
It  is  true  that  Mrs.  Arbuthnot  and  her  daughter  walked  on 
in  advance;  but  it  is  also  true  that  Mrs.  Sackville,  as  the 
then  Miss  Trelawney  now  is,  treated  the  colonel  with  mingled 
scorn,  contempt,  raillery,  and  defiance,  according  to  the 
variations  of  language  which  le  adopted  toward  her.  He 
hinted  at  some  conspiracy  that  was  set  on  foot  against  her, 
and  declared  that  his  own  most  intimate  friends  were 
engaged  in  it.  He  informed  her  that  she  was  the  object  of 
a  wager  on  the  part  of  some  base  and  infamous  voluptuaries. 
Those  were  his  very  words.  He  heard  a  rustling  in  the 
evergreens,  and  was  startled.  Ah!  he  little  thought  that 
Rolando  Tash,"  added  the  captain,  with  a  look  of  terrible 
ferocity  upon  the  pale,  trembling,  and  speechless  colonel, 
"  was  concealed  in  the  evergreens,  like  —  like  —  an  owl  in 
an  ivy-bush." 

Here  the  gallant  officer  paused,  and  tossed  off  another 
tumbler  of  port  wine. 

"  Well,  my  lord,"  he  continued,  addressing  himself  to 
the  marquis,  '*  the  colonel  proceeded  to  threaten  Miss  Tre- 


THE  BANQUET 


107 


lawney  —  Mrs.  Sackville,  I  mean  —  in  a  frightful  manner. 
My  hair,  though  well  oiled  and  curling  naturally,  stood  on 
end.  He  told  her  that  unless  she  yielded  to  his  wishes,  he 
would  persecute  her  by  all  manner  of  means,  destroy  her 
reputation,  whisper  to  one  and  breathe  in  the  ears  of  another 
that  she  was  his  mistress,  ay,  and  even  forge  letters  with 
her  name  appended,  to  prove  his  tale.  He  gave  her  two 
weeks  to  deliberate  —  " 

Enough,  Captain  Tash,"  said  Lord  Leveson.  I  think," 
he  added,  glancing  around  the  table,  that  we  need  not 
allow  Mrs.  Sackville's  ears  to  be  offended  with  a  further 
recapitulation  of  these  atrocities." 

Certainly  not,"  exclaimed  the  prince  regent,  red  with 
indignation.  Sit  down,  Tash,  Uke  a  good  fellow,  and 
drink  your  wine." 

Here's  a  bumper,  then,  to  your  Royal  Highness,"  said 
the  captain,  refilling  his  tumbler  and  tossing  off  the  contents. 

And  inasmuch  as  my  lord  marquis  is  an  excellent  chair- 
man, I  drink  a  bumper  to  him  also,"  suiting  the  action  to 
the  word.  And  forasmuch  as  we  have  a  beautiful  lady 
present,  I  drink  a  bumper  to  her  health  in  particular  and 
that  of  the  sex  in  general,  for  I  don't  know  what  the  devil 
we  should  do  without  them."  Then,  having  drained  the 
tumbler  and  refilling  it,  he  observed,  But  it  would  be  bad 
manners  on  my  part  not  to  drink  to  the  other  lords  and 
gentlemen  present  —  " 

How  long  Captain  Tash  would  have  gone  on  with  his 
succession  of  bumpers  and  healths,  it  is  difficult  to  say; 
but  he  was  suddenly  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  Robin, 
leading  in  Mrs.  Gale  of  Soho  Square. 

A  half-stifled  groan  now  burst  from  the  lips  of  Colonel 
Malpas,  who  saw  that  no  chance  remained  for  him,  but  that 
every  available  incident  had  been  pressed  into  the  service 
of  his  opponents.  Discomfited,  crushed,  almost  annihilated, 
he  sat  ghastly  and  trembling  in  his  chair,  unable  to  speak 
a  word,  a  wretched,  wretched  example  of  mingled  guilt, 
cowardice,  and  despair. 

Mrs.  Gale  was  evidently  much  frightened  at  being  brought 
into  the  presence  of  this  formidable  conclave;  and  Robin 
whispered  to  Captain  Tash  that  if  he  had  not  menaced  her 
with  a  constable,  she  would  not  have  come  at  all.  She  now 
confessed,  after  some  hesitation,  and  with  many  prayers 


108  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


for  pardon,  that  she  had  been  induced  to  draw  up  and  sign 
the  certificate,  which  was  dictated  by  Colonel  Malpas,  on 
condition  of  receiving  the  immediate  payment  of  a  sum 
of  money  owing  to  her  by  him.  She  added  that  the  certifi- 
cate was  not  drawn  up  on  the  day  specified  by  the  date,  but 
some  days  later;  and  she  admitted  that  Mrs.  Sackville  had 
never  visited  her  establishment  at  all.  She  was  then  per- 
mitted to  retire. 

But  scarcely  had  she  left  the  room,  when  the  footman 
entered  to  inform  Colonel  Malpas  that  he  was  wanted  for 
a  moment  on  very  particular  business. 

You  must  come  back  immediately,  sir,"  exclaimed  the 
Marquis  of  Leveson,  sternly. 

The  colonel  murmured  a  faint  Yes,"  and  hastily  quitted 
the  room  in  a  state  of  mind  not  even  enviable  by  a  person 
about  to  be  hanged. 

On  stepping  into  the  hall,  he  was  confronted  by  two 
individuals  whose  looks  proclaimed  their  errand.  One 
was  a  person  of  the  Hebrew  nation,  with  a  cutaway  coat, 
knee-breeches,  and  top-boots.  He  wore  a  spotted  necker- 
chief with  an  enormous  pin,  a  bunch  of  gold  seals  dangled 
from  his  fob,  and  his  silk  handkerchief  hung  half-way  out  of 
his  coat  pocket.  His  companion  was  a  stout,  elderly,  shabby 
man,  carrying  a  huge  stick,  or  rather  bludgeon.  He  wore  a 
greatcoat  buttoned  over  his  chest,  a  white  hat  with  a  mourn- 
ing band,  and  very  clumsy  boots. 

Malpas,  upon  finding  himself  face  to  face  with  these  wor- 
thies, clenched  his  fists  in  a  paroxysm  of  rage;  and  then, 
as  the  Hebrew  gentleman  produced  a  writ,  the  miserable 
colonel  staggered  back  and  sank  upon  a  chair. 

"  Five  tousand  guinish  ish  de  sum,  and  tree  guinish  ish 
de  expensh,  colonel,"  said  the  bailiff,  for  such  he  was.  "  Dis 
leetle  writ  ish  at  de  shoot  of  Mishter  Emmershon.  My  name 
ish  Ikey  —  Moshes  Ikey,  at  your  servish;  and  my  housh 
ish  in  Fetter  Lane.   Tom,  keep  de  door." 

"  All  right,"  growled  the  bailiff's  man,  planting  his  back 
against  the  front  door. 

''Thunder  and  lightning!"  roared  Captain  Tash,  now 
bursting  forth  from  the  dining-room,  inside  the  door  of  which 
he  had  been  listening  to  what  was  passing  in  the  hall,  ''  the 
colonel's  going  to  quod,  but  he  must  not  escape  condign 
punishment.     You  sneaking,  paltry,  cowardly  villain! " 


THE  BANQUET 


109 


he  exclaimed,  springing  toward  Malpas  and  seizing  him  by 
the  nose,  you  are  the  greatest  cur  and  the  clumsiest  villain 
I  ever  knew  in  all  my  life!  So  take  that  —  and  that  —  and 
this  —  and  this  —  and  that  —  and  that!  " 

And,  suiting  the  actions  to  the  words,  the  redoubtable 
Rolando  dragged  the  shrieking,  yeUing  colonel  ignominiously 
by  the  nose  around  the  hall,  bestowing  upon  him  sundry 
boxes  on  the  ears  and  sidelong  kicks  on  the  breech  by  way 
of  chastisement.  Then  suddenly  releasing  his  victim,  Captain 
Tash  gave  him  one  parting  kick  which  sent  him  flying  across 
the  hall  and  ultimately  sprawling  on  the  door-mat. 

The  whole  party,  Venetia  excepted,  had  in  the  meantime 
crowded  at  the  entrance  of  the  dining-room  to  witness 
this  scene,  which  excited  peals  of  laughter;  and  when  it  was 
over,  they  returned  to  their  seats.  Captain  Tash  resuming 
his  own  chair  and  addressing  himself  again  to  the  fruit  and 
wine  as  calmly  and  composedly  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

Then,  while  Colonel  Malpas,  crushed  and  confounded,  was 
taking  his  departure  in  company  with  Mr.  Moses  Ikey  and 
his  man  Tom,  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  said,  We  had 
better  conclude  our  business  at  once  and  leave  the  house  of 
a  vile  impostor  as  soon  as  we  can." 

But  where  is  Robin?  "  inquired  Sackville.  "  Surely 
we  may  offer  him  a  glass  of  wine?  " 

Oh,  there  he  is,"  observed  Tash,  coolly;  and  as  every 
eye  was  directed  toward  the  point  indicated  by  the  gallant 
officer,  a  portion  of  Robin's  form  and  the  tip  of  his  nose  were 
seen  betwixt  the  opening  of  the  window-curtains. 

It  was  with  great  difficulty  he  could  be  persuaded  to  come 
forth  and  drink  some  wine;  and  when  he  had  tossed  off  the 
contents  of  a  glass  which  Sackville  handed  him,  he  glided 
back  again  to  his  lurking-place,  now  completely  disappearing 
behind  the  curtains. 

"  We  have  heard  an  infamous  accusation  triumphantly 
refuted,"  said  the  Marquis  of  Leveson;  and  if  further 
evidence  had  been  required  on  behalf  of  Mrs.  Sackville,  his 
Royal  Highness  and  myself  could  have  supplied  it.  For  on 
that  very  Friday  night  which  the  coward  scoundrel  and  vile 
cheat  named  as  the  period  of  his  alleged  success,  and  between 
the  specified  hours  of  nine  and  eleven,  his  Royal  Highness  and 
I  can  declare  that  we  were  each  honoured  by  a  visit  from  Mrs. 
Sackville,  then  Miss  Trelawney;  and  we  both  emphatically 


110  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


repeat  what  we  proclaimed  ere  now,  that  we  had  neither  of 
us  any  reason  to  imitate  the  presumptuous  assertions  of 
Colonel  Malpas." 

"  My  lord,"  said  Venetia,  her  voice  now  sounding  tremu- 
lously for  the  first  time  since  she  had  entered  the  room, 
I  have  every  reason  to  thank  you  for  the  noble  candour  and 
impartiality  with  which  you  have  conducted  these  proceed- 
ings." Then,  her  countenance  suddenly  lighting  up  with 
the  irradiation  of  good-humoured  archness,  she  observed, 
as  she  rose  from  her  seat,  "  Permit  me  to  express  a  hope 
that  the  next  time  you  agree  to  lay  wagers  relative  to  the 
result  of  a  love-campaign,  you  will  take  care  whom  you 
admit  into  the  compact  and  trust  with  the  secret.  Other- 
wise you  may  chance  to  be  dishonoured  by  the  companion- 
ship of  another  Colonel  Malpas." 

Having  thus  spoken  with  a  charming  air  of  good-natured 
remonstrance,  she  bowed  and  moved  toward  the  door. 
The  Prince  of  Wales  instantaneously  sprang  forward  to 
open  it  for  her;  and  as  Venetia  passed  him,  he  whispered, 
tenderly,  "  Does  our  compact  hold  good,  my  angel?  " 

"  It  does,"  she  replied,  in  her  softest  tone.  "  Next  Monday 
evening,  nine  o'clock,  Carlton  House." 

And  darting  upon  him  a  look  of  profound  meaning,  she 
issued  from  the  room.  The  prince,  scarcely  able  to  conceal 
the  joy  inspired  by  this  response,  returned  to  his  seat;  and 
as  the  screen  had  hidden  Venetia  and  himself  from  the  view 
of  the  assembled  guests  during  that  hurried  interchange  of 
whispers,  the  circumstance  passed  unnoticed. 

We  have  now,"  said  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  but 
one  more  matter  of  business  to  dispose  of,  and  that  is  to 
decide  who  has  won  the  sweepstakes  of  six  thousand  guineas. 
I  think  there  cannot  be  a  doubt  upon  the  subject;  and  with 
your  concurrence,  my  friends,  I  shall  hand  over  the  amount 
to  Mr.  Horace  Sackville." 

This  proposal  was  agreed  to,  and  the  bank-notes,  to- 
gether with  the  purse  of  sovereigns,  were  passed  around  the 
table  to  Venetia's  husband.  ^ 

Horace  consigned  the  notes  to  his  pocket,  saymg,  I 
thank  you  all  for  helping  me  to  a  wife  and  a  fortune.  As  for 
this  purse,  I  must  beg  Captain  Tash  to  accept  it." 

"  It  is  in  the  nature  of  gifts  that  I  never  refuse,"  ex- 
claimed the  gallant  officer.  "  And  now,"  he  continued,  rismg 


THE  BANQUET 


111 


from  his  seat  and  lifting  a  tumbler  of  wine  to  his  lips,  I 
must  drink  to  the  health  of  my  friend,  Mr.  Sackville,  and 
long  life  to  him!  But  as  it  would  be  rude  not  to  pay  my 
respects  to  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,"  he  went  on  to  say, 
refilling  the  tumbler  he  had  just  emptied,  I  must  drink 
to  his  health."  Then,  after  draining  the  glass,  and  while 
replenishing  it,  he  added,  Likewise  the  Right  Honourable 
the  Earl  of  Curzon;  "  and  after  another  brief  pause,  during 
which  he  poured  the  draught  down  his  capacious  throat,  he 
said,  Forasmuch  as  there  is  but  another  tumblerful  in 
the  decanter,  it  would  be  a  pity  not  to  dispose  of  it  to  advan- 
tage, and  so  I  will  drink  it  to  the  health  of  any  whom  such 
health  may  concern." 

The  prince,  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  the  earl,  and  Sir 
Douglas  had  all  drunk  quite  enough  to  be  in  a  humour  to 
laugh  heartily  at  Captain  Tash's  freaks;  nor  was  Horace, 
though  far  more  temperate,  and  indeed  perfectly  sober, 
inclined  to  be  less  jovial  on  the  occasion.  But  so  soon  as 
the  gallant  officer  had  exhausted  all  the  wine  as  well  as 
his  catalogue  of  excuses  for  disposing  of  it,  Sackville  bade  his 
friends  good  night  and  left  the  room.  Venetia  was  waiting 
for  him  in  another  apartment,  to  which  the  accommodating 
butler  had  shown  her;  and  before  the  newly  married  couple 
took  their  departure  in  the  carriage  that  was  waiting  for 
them,  they  informed  Mr.  Plumpstead  that  he  might  enter 
their  service  at  Acacia  Cottage  on  the  morrow. 

The  carriages  of  the  other  guests  were  soon  announced, 
the  party  broke  up,  and  when  Mrs.  Malpas  returned  home 
from  her  plebeian  relatives  in  the  City,  she  heard  that  her 
husband  had  been  soundly  thrashed  in  the  first  place  and 
taken  away  to  a  sponging-house  afterward. 


CHAPTER  X 


THE  TRIAL 

On  the  morning  that  succeeded  the  incidents  just  related, 
the  court-house  of  the  Old  Bailey  was  thronged  to  excess; 
for  Mr.  Paul  Dysart  was  to  stand  his  trial  on  the  charge 
of  feloniously  killing  and  slaying  the  Honourable  George 
Sefton.  A  second  count  in  the  indictment  accused  him  of 
fighting  a  duel  and  thereby  breaking  his  Majesty's  peace,  — 
although,  be  it  observed,  his  Majesty  was  a  hopeless  lunatic 
at  the  time  and  much  more  likely  to  break  the  peace  himself 
than  preserve  it.  Such,  however,  was  the  legal  fiction  and 
phraseology;  and  Mr.  Dysart  was  arraigned  accordingly. 

His  wife,  Lady  Ernestina,  was  not  in  court;  but  she  was 
close  at  hand,  —  indeed,  warming  herself  comfortably  by 
the  fire  in  the  drawing-room  of  the  governor  of  Newgate. 
She  was  a  lady  of  rank,  and  was  therefore  thus  courteously 
treated  by  the  governor.  Had  she  been  a  poor  man's  wife, 
she  would  have  had  to  stand  all  day  in  the  open  street,  or  else 
at  the  pubhc-house  opposite  the  court,  unless,  indeed,  she 
had  chosen  to  be  present  during  the  trial. 

But  while  the  fiction  of  the  so-called  British  Constitution 
declares  that  all  persons  are  equal  in  the  eye  of  the  law,  the 
administrators,  functionaries,  and  officials  of  the  law  take 
very  good  care  that  such  shall  not  be  the  case.  Thus, 
inasmuch  as  several  of  the  witnesses  engaged  in  the  present 
case  were  of  aristocratic  birth,  they  were  accommodated  with 
seats  upon  the  bench;  and  Lord  Herbert,  the  principal 
witness,  sat  next  to  the  recorder  and  chatted  familiarly  with 
him  while  the  clerk  was  swearing  the  jury.  Now,  had  the 
witnesses  been  coster  mongers  or  tinkers,  or  any  other  indi- 
viduals belonging  to  the  working  class,  they  would  not  have 
dared  approach  the  sacred  limit  of  the  judicial  bench. 

112 


THE  TRIAL 


113 


Moreover,  as  Mr.  Dysart  had  married  into  an  aristocratic 
family,  he  was  accommodated  with  a  chair  in  the  dock ;  and 
the  turnkey  who  had  charge  of  him  was  desired  by  the 
governor  not  to  stand  too  near  "  the  unfortunate  gentle- 
man.'* We  may  also  observe  that  during  the  whole  trial  he 
was  never  spoken  of,  either  by  judge,  counsel,  or  witnesses, 
otherwise  than  as  Mr.  Dysart ;  whereas,  had  he  been  a  work- 
ing man,  the  said  judge,  counsel,  and  witnesses  would  not 
have  thought  of  speaking  of  him  otherwise  than  as  the 
prisoner,  or  the  accused.  Such  a  fortunate  thing  is  it  to  be 
either  rich  or  else  connected  with  the  aristocracy  in  this 
country! 

Ah!  poor  working  men,  sons  and  daughters  of  toil,  pro- 
ducers of  everything  and  consumers  of  almost  nothing, 
ye  scarcely  seem  to  know  how  utterly,  completely,  and 
entirely  ye  are  oppressed,  enslaved,  and  trampled  upon  by 
the  arrogant,  indolent,  and  tyrannical  aristocracy. 

Mr.  Dysart,  on  entering  the  dock,  bowed  politely  to  the 
judge  and  jury,  and  then  seated  himself  with  an  air  of  con- 
fidence and  composure;  for  he  felt  assured  that  even  if  the 
jury  should  find  him  guilty  of  the  most  aggravated  charge, 
and  the  bench  should  thereupon  doom  him  to  death,  the 
prince  regent  would  accord  him  a  full  pardon.  He  was 
therefore  comparatively  easy  in  his  mind,  looking  upon  the 
present  ordeal  as  a  great  annoyance,  but  by  no  means  as  a 
predicament  of  terrible  danger. 

The  jury  having  been  sworn,  and  the  recorder  having  fin- 
ished laughing  at  the  joke  which  Lord  Herbert  had  just 
whispered  in  the  judicial  ear,  the  trial  commenced.  The 
attorney-general  appeared  to  prosecute;  and  he  contented 
himself  with  a  mere  outline  of  the  case,  very  considerately 
abstaining  from  emphasis  on  the  strongest  points,  and 
putting  the  weakest  prominently  forward,  as  if  he  were 
actually  furnishing  the  jury  with  an  excuse  to  acquit  the 
prisoner.  But  on  the  previous  day  he  had  prosecuted  a 
working  man  for  sedition;  and  then  how  he  exaggerated 
every  minute  detail  and  by  his  eloquence  invested  the  feeblest 
point  with  an  overwhelming  power  to  crush  the  accused! 
But  Mr.  Dysart  had  married  the  niece  of  the  Marquis  of 
Leveson,  and  so  the  attorney-general  did  not  wish  to  send 
him  to  the  scaffold. 

The  law-officer  having  opened  the  case.  Lord  Herbert  was 


114  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


sworn  as  a  witness.  He  did  not  leave  his  place  on  the  bench 
near  the  recorder,  neither  did  he  rise  from  his  seat,  but  gave 
his  evidence  as  comfortably  as  if  lounging  in  his  own  drawing- 
room.  He  was  a  tall,  thin  man,  of  about  fifty-five  years  of 
age,  with  iron-gray  hair,  and  a  sprawhng,  awkward,  uncouth 
figure.  He  was  immensely  vain,  outrageously  arrogant,  fond 
of  hearing  himself  talk,  and  yet  as  empty-headed  as  lords 
generally  are.  He  had  a  habit  of  hesitating  so  much  in  his 
speech  that  it  seemed  Hke  a  natural  impediment,  and  made 
it  painful  to  listen  to  him.  In  fact,  he  was  a  shallow-pated 
numskull;  and  if  he  had  not  been  an  aristocrat,  would  have 
been  written  down  an  ass. 

"  I  believe,  my  lord,"  said  the  attorney-general,  "  you  are 
acquainted  with  Mr.  Dysart,  the  gentleman  whose  case  is 
under  investigation?  " 

Haw  —  hem  —  ah  —  oh,  yes,  perfectly  well  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Dysart,"  responded  Lord  Herbert,  crossing  one  leg 
over  the  other. 

"  And  I  believe  your  lordship  gave  a  grand  entertainment 
to  a  party  of  noblemen  and  gentlemen  in  the  beginning  of 
June,  of  the  present  year?  " 

"  Hem  —  hah  —  haw  —  oh,   yes,   a  dinner-party." 

"  At  which  Mr.  Dysart  was  present?  " 

"  Haw  —  ay  —  yes  —  haw  —  Mr.  Dysart  was  present  — • 
he  —  haw." 

"  And  the  lamented  deceased,  the  Honourable  George 
Sefton,  was  Hke  wise  of  the  party?  " 

"Eh  —  haw  —  hem  —  oh,   yes  —  George  Sefton  —  haw 

—  hem  —  was  there." 

I  believe  that  when  the  cloth  was  removed  and  the 
dessert  was  placed  upon  the  table,  a  dispute  arose  upon  some 
matter?  " 

''Oh  —  ah  —  hem  —  a  dispute  about  Tantivy,  the  winner 

—  haw  — of  the  Oaks  —  hem  —  and  also  about  Old 
Fogey,  another  crack  racer  —  haw." 

"  And  Mr.  Dysart  gave  the  Honourable  George  Sefton 
the  lie,  I  believe?  " 

Hem  —  hah  —  yes  —  I'm  afraid  he  did.  Then,  you 
know,  high  words  —  hem  —  haw  —  ensued  —  and  Mr.  Dy- 
sart flung  a  glass  of  wine  in  Sefton's  face  —  haw  —  haw  — 
and  Sefton  flew  into  a  rage  —  haw  —  and  I  don't  know  how 
it  was  —  haw  —  or  how  it  came  about  exactly  —  hem  — 


THE  TRIAL 


115 


hem  —  but  pistols  were  talked  of  —  and  —  and  —  and  — 
pistols  were  got  —  haw  —  haw  —  and  then  —  yes,  then  —  " 
Pray  don't  hurry  yourself,  my  lord,"  said  the  judge; 
"  there's  plenty  of  time,  and  we  have  got  the  whole  day 
before  us." 

"  Oh,  certainly,"  observed  the  attorney-general.  "  Your 
lordship  was  explaining,  with  your  lordship's  wonted  clear- 
ness and  perspicuity,  how  pistols  were  obtained." 

"Ah  —  yes  —  haw  —  truly,"  exclaimed  the  nobleman, 
lolling  back  in  his  seat  and  running  his  fingers  com- 
plaisantly  through  his  hair,  which  stood  upright  all  over  his 
head.  Well,  as  I  was  saying,  then  —  haw  —  he  —  haw  — 
it  was  proposed  to  fight  —  hem  —  hah  —  across  the  table, 
and  I  believe  —  I'm  afraid  —  hem  —  haw  —  I'm  afraid 
Mr.  Dysart  fired  —  hem  —  before  the  signal  —  haw  —  was 
given.  Sefton  fell  dead  —  haw  —  'twas  a  bad  business  — 
haw  —  and  that's  all  I  know  —  hem  —  of  the  matter." 

And  having  thus  given  his  evidence.  Lord  Herbert  in- 
dulged in  a  long  yawn,  stretching  out  his  sprawhng  legs  till 
every  joint  cracked  audibly. 

Dysart's  counsel  rose  to  cross-examine  the  nobleman; 
but  the  attorney-general  threw  a  deprecatory  look  upon 
him;  and  the  barrister,  fearful  of  giving  offence  to  the  great 
law-officer  as  well  as  to  the  judge  upon  the  bench,  contented 
himself  by  asking  some  trivial  question  just  to  save  appear- 
ances, and  resumed  his  seat. 

The  Honourable  George  Macnamara,  who  sat  next  to  Lord 
Herbert,  now  gave  his  testimony  to  the  following  pur- 
port: 

"  I  remember  the  entertainment  at  my  Lord  Herbert's. 
It  was  in  the  beginning  of  June.  About  twelve  or  fourteen 
noblemen  and  gentlemen  were  present.  I  was  one  of  the 
guests,  Mr.  Dysart  was  another,  and  the  Honourable  George 
Sefton  was  likewise  there.  A  dispute  arose  relative  to  Tan- 
tivy and  Old  Fogey.  These  horses  both  belonged  to  Mr. 
Sefton;  and  Mr.  Dysart  was  understood  to  have  bet  heavily 
upon  them.  From  a  word  that  Mr.  Sefton  let  fall,  Mr.  Dysart 
fancied  that  he  did  not  mean  the  horses  to  run;  and  he  called 
him  a  scoundrel  and  a  cheat.  Mr.  Sefton  called  him  a  liar. 
We  were  all  pretty  jolly  —  I  may,  indeed,  say  we  were  all 
drunk.  Lord  Herbert  was  certainly  not  sober.  Mr.  Dysart 
challenged  Mr.  Sefton  to  a  duel  across  the  table,  and  Lord 


116  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Herbert  produced  his  pistols.  Seconds  were  appointed, 
and  it  was  agreed  that  at  a  given  signal  the  hostile  parties 
should  fire.  This  took  place  in  Lord  Herbert's  dining-room. 
Mr.  Dysart  and  Mr.  Sefton  received  the  pistols  at  the  same 
moment,  and  Mr.  Dysart  instantaneously  discharged  his 
pistol  pointblank  at  Mr.  Sefton.  The  signal  was  not  given 
at  all.  Mr.  Sefton  uttered  a  cry,  sprang  straight  up  at  least 
a  foot  from  the  floor,  and  then  dropped  dead.  I  am  bound 
to  say  that  Mr.  Dysart,  when  he  fired,  exclaimed,  *  Take 
that,  you  young  villain! '  or  words  to  the  same  effect." 

The  Honourable  George  Macnamara,  not  being  a  peer, 
was  subjected  to  some  fittle  cross-examination;  but  his 
testimony  was  not  shaken  in  the  sUghtest  degree. 

Lieutenant  Apsley,  who  was  also  one  of  the  party  at  Lord 
Herbert's  house,  was  next  summoned  as  a  witness;  and  he 
not  only  corroborated  Mr.  Macnamara's  evidence,  but  clearly 
proved  that  Dysart  could  not  possibly  have  fired  in  the  mis- 
taken behef  that  the  signal  was  given.  For  this  signal  was 
to  consist  of  the  words,  "  One  —  two  —  three,"  deliberately 
uttered,  and  at  the  last  word  the  duellists  were  to  fire; 
whereas  Mr.  Dysart  had  discharged  his  pistol  before  even 
the  first  word  of  the  signal  was  spoken. 

Some  other  evidence  was  given,  and  the  case  for  the  prose- 
cution closed. 

The  prisoner's  counsel  made  as  able  a  speech  as  the  damna- 
tory nature  of  the  evidence  and  his  own  fears  of  offending 
the  bigwigs  "  would  allow;  but  he  entirely  glossed  over 
the  startUng  fact  which  had  come  out  in  Macnamara's 
evidence,  namely,  that  Lord  Herbert  had  supplied  the  pistols. 
Not  that  the  point  would  have  helped  Dysart's  case  at  all; 
still  it  was  one  which  a  conscientious  barrister,  unawed  by 
the  frowns  of  the  bench,  would  not  have  failed  to  touch  upon. 

Having  concluded  his  speech,  the  counsel  for  the  defence 
called  several  witnesses  to  prove  that  Mr.  Dysart  was  one  of 
the  mildest,  most  forbearing,  amiable,  and  good-tempered 
men  in  the  whole  world;  and  inasmuch  as  the  said  witnesses 
(none  of  whom  had  ever  seen  Dysart  before  in  their  lives) 
had  been  paid  ten  pounds  apiece  to  give  him  this  brilliant 
character,  it  must  be  allowed  that  they  could  not  well 
attribute  to  him  fewer  virtues  considering  how  handsomely 
they  were  remunerated  for  their  trouble. 

The  attorney-general  rose  to  reply.  He  began  by  remark- 


THE  TRIAL 


117 


ing  that  never  in  the  whole  course  of  his  professional  career 
had  it  been  his  good  fortune  to  listen  to  evidence  so  lucidly, 
clearly,  intelligibly,  and  impartially  given  as  that  of  Lord 
Herbert,  —  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  that  great  and 
glorious  aristocracy  which  was  the  pride,  the  glory,  and  the 
ornament  of  this  free,  happy,  and  enlightened  country.  It  was 
a  pleasure  (continued  the  attorney-general)  to  behold  a  man 
of  Lord  Herbert's  rank,  leaving  his  sumptuous  mansion  at 
the  West  End,  and  cheerfully  coming  down  to  a  public 
tribunal  to  further  the  ends  and  assist  the  aims  of  justice. 
It  had  been  stated  in  the  evidence  of  Mr.  Macnamara  that 
the  party  of  noblemen  and  gentlemen  assembled  at  Lord 
Herbert's  mansion  on  the  melancholy  occasion  alluded  to 
had  indulged  somewhat  freely  in  the  use  of  the  grape;  but 
surely  a  little  excess  in  this  manner  was  not  to  be  wondered 
at,  when  it  was  considered  how  heavily  the  legislative  duties 
attached  to  the  noble  lord's  proud  position  as  a  peer  of  the 
realm  must  at  times  press  upon  his  lordship. 

As  the  newspapers  said  next  day,  "  the  learned  attorney- 
general  then  went  carefully  over  the  evidence;  "  but  so 
carefully  did  the  learned  gentleman  perform  this  part  of  his 
duty  that  he  pretty  nearly  told  the  jury,  at  least  in  terms 
as  plain  as  he  dared  venture  upon,  that  they  would  do  well 
to  acquit  Mr.  Dysart. 

The  learned  recorder,  who  had  been  fast  asleep  during  the 
attorney-general's  closing  speech,  now  woke  up;  and,  turning 
to  his  notes,  he  proceeded  to  sum  up  the  case  to  the  jury. 
Imitating  the  example  of  the  prisoner's  counsel  and  the 
attorney-general,  the  learned  judge  made  not  the  slightest 
allusion  to  the  fact  that  Lord  Herbert  had  provided  his  own 
pistols  for  the  duellists,  and  had  allowed  so  scandalous 
a  scene  to  take  place  at  his  own  mansion  and  in  his  own 
dining-room;  much  less  did  the  learned  recorder  think  of 
telling  this  same  Lord  Herbert  that  he  ought  to  have  been 
included  in  the  indictment,  as  an  accessory  to  the  crime 
for  which  the  prisoner  was  then  in  the  presence  of  the  jury. 
No  such  thing.  But  the  judge  did  also  imitate  the  attorney- 
general  by  travelling  out  of  his  way  to  eulogize  Lord  Herbert 
in  particular  and  the  aristocracy  in  general;  and  he  further 
took  a  leaf  out  of  the  attorney-general's  book  by  hinting  that 
the  best  thing  the  jury  could  do  would  be  to  acquit  Mr. 
Dysart. 


118  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


The  jury,  however,  seemed  to  take  quite  a  different  view 
of  the  matter;  so  that  without  much  deUberation,  and  also 
without  leaving  the  box,  they  returned  a  verdict  of  wilful 
murder  against  Paul  Dysart. 

Every  eye  was  turned  upon  the  prisoner  to  behold  how 
he  received  the  record  which  heralded  the  crowning  act  in 
the  drama,  namely,  the  condemnation  to  death.  A  sudden 
pallor  overspread  his  features,  as  if  a  spasm  convulsed  him 
at  the  moment ;  but  the  next  instant  he  was  calm,  collected, 
and  confident  as  before.  It  was  at  first  a  frightful  shock  to 
be  found  guilty  of  murder,  the  bare  mention  of  which  terrible 
word  was  enough  to  make  the  gallows  and  all  the  dread 
paraphernalia  of  death  spring  up  before  his  startled  imagina- 
tion; but  this  feeling  was  promptly  relieved  by  the  recollec- 
tion that  his  wife  held  a  document  which  could  compel  the 
prince  regent  to  open  the  doors  of  his  dungeon  and  recall 
him  forth  to  freedom. 

The  recorder  put  on  the  black  cap,  and  in  the  usual 
stereotyped  form  of  verbiage  pronounced  the  awful  sentence 
of  the  law,  which  was  that  Paul  Dysart  should  be  taken  back 
to  the  place  whence  he  came,  and  thence  to  a  place  of  execu- 
tion, where  he  should  be  hung  by  the  neck  until  he  was  dead; 
and  the  recorder  concluded  by  expressing  a  hope  that  the 
Lord  would  have  mercy  upon  his  soul. 

Execrable  imposture!  vile  barbarism!  diabolical  iniquity ! 
Man  proves  merciless  in  his  vengeance,  and  yet  hopes  that 
God  will  be  merciful.  But  should  not  man  follow  the 
example  of  this  Almighty  Power  whom  he  invokes? 

It  was  now  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Dysart  was 
conveyed  back  to  Newgate,  the  recorder  went  to  dine  with 
Lord  Herbert,  the  common-sergeant  took  his  place  upon  the 
bench,  and  the  trial  of  petty  felons  occupied  the  rest  of  the 
evening.  The  crowd  dispersed,  each  individual  remarking 
to  his  friend,    I  wonder  when  he  will  be  hung." 

Meantime  the  governor  of  Newgate  proceeded  to  his 
drawing-room,  where  Lady  Ernestina  was  seated;  and,  inas- 
much as  it  suited  her  purpose  to  manifest  the  deepest  anxiety 
relative  to  the  result  of  the  trial,  he  fancied  it  to  be  incum- 
bent upon  him  to  break  the  tidings  as  gently  as  possible. 
Then  she  fell  into  a  strong  fit;  and  when  she  had  performed 
this  little  piece  of  tragedy,  she  wildly  demanded  to  see 
her  dear,  dear  husband! 


THE  TRIAL 


119 


The  governor  accordingly  conducted  Lady  Ernestina  to 
Dysart's  cell;  and  precipitating  herself  into  his  arms,  she 
lavished  upon  him  the  tenderest  caresses.  The  governor 
retired;  and  then  the  lady  grew  calmer.  Dysart  was  com- 
pletely deceived  by  her  manner,  her  words,  her  looks,  and  her 
tears;  and  he  fancied  she  experienced  a  return  of  all  that 
enthusiastic  affection  which  had  formerly  induced  her  to 
become  his  wife. 

I  don't  altogether  deserve  so  much  kindness  at  your 
hands,  Ernestina,"  he  said;  but  I'll  make  up  for  the  past 
when  once  I  am  out  of  this  cursed  place.  Don't  cry,  the 
annoyance  and  vexation  are  only  temporary —  " 

"  But  to  think  that  such  a  dreadful  sentence  should  ever 
have  been  passed!  "  exclaimed  Ernestina,  with  a  simulation 
of  the  profoundest  emotion. 

Well,  we  were  not  altogether  unprepared  for  it,  —  at 
least  I  was  not,"  said  her  husband;  and,  thank  Heaven, 
you  have  got  a  talisman  which  will  speedily  open  these 
prison  doors.  Ah!  how  surprised  the  prince  will  be  to  find 
that  the  lady  of  his  romantic  adventure  at  Beechy  Manor 
is  none  other  than  the  niece  of  his  intimate  friend  the  Marquis 
of  Leveson!  " 

And  when  shall  I  communicate  with  his  Royal  High- 
ness? "  asked  Ernestina.  Since  I  have  returned  to  my 
uncle's  residence,  he  has  not  once  called." 

"  You  must  see  the  prince  to-morrow,  Ernestina,"  said 
Dysart,  impressively.  "  There  is  no  time  to  be  lost.  The 
recorder  will  make  his  report  next  week." 

"  Yes,  I  will  see  the  prince  to-morrow,  if  possible," 
observed  Lady  Dysart.  Shall  I  go  to  Carlton  House,  or 
write  and  beg  an  interview?  " 

"  Whichever  you  think  advisable.  But  of  course  his  Royal 
Highness  can  do  nothing  officially  until  after  he  has  received 
the  recorder's  report;  before  that  report  is  made,  the  prince 
is  supposed  to  know  nothing  of  the  case.  But  privately  it 
will  be  as  well  not  only  to  prepare  him  for  what  he  will 
have  to  do,  but  also  to  exact  from  him  a  promise  that 
he  will  comply  with  the  terms  of  the  solemn  compact  he  has 
signed." 

Yes,  I  will  see  him  to-morrow,  Paul,"  said  Ernestina j 
and  afterward,  if  it  be  not  too  late,  I  will  hasten  hither 
with  the  particulars  of  our  interview." 


120  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  And  if  it  should  be  too  late  to-morrow  evening,  you  will 
come  early  on  the  following  day?  "  said  Dysart,  interroga- 
tively. 

"  Ah!  I  shall  be  only  too  glad  to  bring  you  good  news/* 
she  answered,  apparently  with  much  emotion.  But  the 
result  cannot  be  otherwise,  for  the  prince  regent  must  and 
shall  fulfil  the  terms  of  his  compact." 

It  rests  only  with  you  to  compel  him,"  observed  Dysart. 
Then,  in  a  solemn  tone,  he  added,  Remember,  Ernestina, 
my  life  is  in  your  hands." 

"  And  I  will  save  it,"  she  exclaimed,  flinging  herself  into 
his  arms. 

She  then  took  leave  of  her  husband;  and  as  she  returned 
in  a  hackney-coach  to  Leveson  House  in  Albemarle  Street, 
she  said  to  herself, All  suspicion  on  his  part  is  lulled  asleep; 
he  places  the  fullest  confidence  in  me,  and  I  must  manage  to 
retain  it  until  the  very  last." 

Then,  as  she  threw  herself  back  in  the  vehicle,  she  felt  a 
cold  shudder  thrill  through  her  form  at  the  thought  that  if 
her  plans  were  carried  out  with  success,  the  ground  which 
she  had  just  passed  over  in  the  Old  Bailey  would  in  a  few 
short  days  be  covered  with  a  densely  packed  multitude  to 
witness  the  crowning  catastrophe  in  Dysart's  career;  but, 
angry  with  herself  the  next  moment  for  giving  way  to  what 
she  deemed  a  weakness,  she  murmured,  "  Yes,  it  is  neces- 
sary; I  must  be  rid  of  this  demon  whom  I  conjured  up 
to  torment  me.  Ah!  it  is  the  tenderest  love  which  turns 
to  the  bitterest  hatred  and  seeks  for  the  most  terrible 
vengeance." 

On  arriving  in  Albemarle  Street  Ernestina  was  informed 
that  her  uncle  the  marquis  was  engaged  with  Mrs.  Owen 
of  Richmond;  and  she  was  therefore  compelled  to  wait  till  this 
lady  had  taken  her  departure,  before  she  could  see  Lord 
Leveson.  We  may  observe  that  Ernestina  knew  nothing 
of  the  conspiracy  that  had  been  hatched  against  the  Princess 
of  Wales,  and  in  which  the  three  oldest  Misses  Owen  were 
engaged;  and  she  therefore  attributed  her  uncle's  intimacy 
with  the  mother  of  those  young  ladies  to  an  affair  of  gal- 
lantry. 

The  marquis  and  Mrs.  Owen  remained  in  private  discussion 
together  for  nearly  an  hour;  and  at  the  expiration  of  this 
interval,  when  the  lady  had  taken  her  departure,  Ernestina 


THE  TRIAL 


121 


had  an  opportunity  of  communicating  to  her  noble  uncle 
the  result  of  the  trial  at  the  Old  Bailey. 

"  Now,  then,  Ernestina,"  he  said,  with  a  look  of  deep 
meaning,  "  you  will  be  enabled  to  carry  out  your  projects, 
as  you  have  explained  them  to  me.'* 

I  shall,  my  dear  uncle,"  she  responded;  "  but  they 
will  require  the  utmost  tact  and  caution,  and  I  must  continue 
to  play  the  hypocrite  toward  Dysart  with  such  consummate 
skill  —  " 

"  Which  you  will  be  enabled  to  do,  Ernestina,"  added 
the  marquis,  who  seemed  to  be  in  a  desperate  hurry  about 
something.  "  But  I  must  leave  you  to  work  out  these 
schemes  by  yourself,  for  I  am  compelled  to  undertake  a 
journey  +o  France." 

To  France! "  exclaimed  Lady  Dysart,  in  astonish- 
ment. 

"  Yes,  and  without  delay,  too,  on  very  important  business 
indeed,"  said  the  marquis.  "  I  have  ordered  my  travelling- 
carriage  and  shall  depart  in  an  hour,  the  moment  I  have 
eaten  a  mouthful  of  dinner." 

You  will  travel  all  night,  then?  "  said  Ernestina.  "  It 
is  now  past  seven  o'clock." 

Yes,  I  shall  travel  without  stopping  to  Dover,  where 
I  hope  to  arrive  at  about  three  in  the  morning.  I  can  then 
snatch  a  few  hours'  sleep,  and  sail  by  the  packet-boat  at  ten 
or  eleven.  Let  us  sit  down  to  dinner,  then,  for  I  am  sure 
you  must  be  in  want  of  refreshment  after  so  exciting  and 
disagreeable  a  day." 

Not  disagreeable  as  to  the  result  of  the  trial,"  observed 
Lady  Dysart,  significantly. 

The  uncle  and  niece  now  repaired  to  the  dining-room, 
where  they  continued  their  discourse  as  they  partook  of 
the  repast,  until  a  domestic  announced  that  the  travelUng- 
carriage  was  in  readiness.  The  marquis  then  took  an  affec- 
tionate leave  of  his  niece,  in  whose  hands  he  placed  a  cheque 
for  a  sum  of  money  to  meet  her  wants  during  his  absence; 
and  in  a  few  minutes  he  was  whirled  as  rapidly  away  as 
four  post-horses  and  a  lightly  constructed  vehicle  could 
bear  him. 

Ernestina  remained  alone  in  the  dining-room,  pondering 
upon  the  various  circumstances  which  had  occurred  within 
the  last  few  weeks,  and  revolving  in  her  mind  the  plans  and 


122  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


projects  which  they  had  been  so  fertile  in  suggesting.  In 
this  manner  an  hour  shpped  away,  and  the  clock  had  struck 
nine,  when  a  footman  entered  to  announce  that  a  person 
wished  to  speak  to  her  ladyship  upon  a  matter  of  some 
importance. 

A  person!   Who  is  it?  "  she  ejaculated,  impatiently. 

A  man,  your  ladyship;  but  he  refuses  to  give  his  name 
or  state  his  business." 

Perhaps  it  is  the  marquis  whom  he  wants." 

No,  my  lady;  I  told  him  that  his  lordship  had  just  left 
London,  and  he  said  it  was  to  your  ladyship  he  wished  to 
speak." 

Then  show  him  in,"  exclaimed  Ernestina,  wondering 
who  the  individual  could  be. 

The  domestic  bowed  and  withdrew,  but  almost  immedi- 
ately returned,  ushering  in  a  man  dressed  in  a  coarse  style, 
with  a  great  thick  coat,  a  neckerchief  drawn  up  to  his 
mouth,  and  a  broad-brimmed  hat  in  his  hand.  The  servant 
retired,  the  man  advanced,  and  as  the  light  fell  upon  his 
features,  Ernestina  instantaneously  recognized  the  individual 
who  had  dug  the  grave  for  her  paramour. 


CHAPTER  XI 


UNPLEASANT  VISITORS 

A  COLD  chill  fell  upon  the  lady,  as  if  her  flesh  had  suddenly 
come  in  contact  with  the  slimy  coils  of  a  serpent,  and  the 
colour  fled  from  her  cheeks.  She  was  struck  as  if  with  an 
omen  of  evil,  for  the  appearance  of  this  man,  whom  she  only 
knew  by  the  name  of  Jones,  and  which  name  she  beUeved 
to  be  an  assumed  one,  was  indeed  but  too  well  calculated 
of  itself,  apart  from  any  repugnant  associations  connected 
with  him,  to  arouse  a  mortal  terror  in  her  soul. 

"  What  do  you  want?  What  do  you  require?  "  she  de- 
manded, in  a  voice  that  was  nearly  suffocated  by  her  emo- 
tions. 

"I  just  want  to  have  a  few  words  with  your  ladyship, 
that's  all,"  said  the  man;  and  advancing  toward  the  fire, 
he  coolly  and  deliberately  took  a  seat. 

Ernestina  fell  back  in  the  chair  from  which  she  had  started 
on  his  entrance;  but  composing  herself  as  well  as  she  was 
able,  she  made  a  sign  for  him  to  continue. 

"  Your  husband,  ma'am  —  I  mean  your  ladyship's 
husband,"  he  resumed,  endeavouring  to  give  his  hangdog 
countenance  an  insinuating  look,  has  got  himself  into  a 
precious  scrape,  and  if  he  don't  mind  he'll  be  a  croaker  before 
ten  days  are  over." 

But  what  do  you  want  with  me?  "  demanded  Ernestina, 
impatiently. 

"  I'll  explain  myself  all  in  good  time,"  he  continued. 
"  If  you're  in  a  hurry,  I'm  not  particularly  so  —  and  there's 
the  difference.  Besides,  you  shouldn't  look  so  precious 
glum  at  an  old  acquaintance.  I  suppose  you  know  it  was 
me  that  got  up  the  expedition  that  night  when  the  prince  and 
the  marquis  were  taken  to  the  manor;  and  of  course  you 

123 


124  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


know  it  was  me  that  dug  the  grave  at  the  Blackheath  villa. 
Well,  I  was  treated  like  a  genelman  by  your  ladyship's 
husband;  he  paid  me  handsome,  and  now  I  want  to  serve 
him.   That's  the  object  of  my  business." 

"  But  who  are  you? "  demanded  Ernestina,  who  had 
shuddered  visibly  when  the  wretch  alluded  to  the  digging 
of  the  grave. 

"Ah!  I  recollect,"  exclaimed  the  man.  "  Mr.  Dysart 
told  me  when  I  was  at  Beechey  Manor  that  you  only  knew 
me  by  the  name  of  Jones.  Nevertheless,  my  name  is  no 
more  Jones  than  your  ladyship's  is;  and  as  there's  no  use  for 
any  disguise  or  concealment  that  I  can  see,  I  may  as  well 
explain  to  you  at  once  that  my  proper  name  is  Dan'el 
Coffin  —  '' 

What!  the  public  executioner!  "  cried  the  miserable 
lady,  springing  to  her  feet  and  gazing  upon  the  man  with 
horror  depicted  upon  her  countenance.  Then,  as  the  account 
of  the  burglary  at  Mrs.  Owen's,  which  she  had  read  in  the 
newspapers,  flashed  to  her  mind,  she  instantaneously  under- 
stood the  circumstances  in  which  Daniel  Coffin  had 
sought  refuge  at  Beechey  Manor  with  the  pseudonym  of 
Jones. 

"  Don't  alarm  yourself,  ma'am,"  said  Coffin,  with  im- 
perturbable coolness;  "  I  ain't  come  to  hang  you.  But 
pray  sit  down  again ;  you  see  I  make  myself  at  home,  because 
I  want  to  speak  to  you  on  very  particular  business,  and  the 
more  you  won't  hear  me,  the  longer  you'll  keep  me." 

Struck  by  the  truth  of  this  remark,  and  anxious  to  get 
rid  of  her  dreadful  visitor  as  soon  as  possible,  Ernestina 
reseated  herself,  and  again  made  a  hurried  motion  for  him 
to  continue. 

Well,  my  lady,"  resumed  Coffin,  as  I  was  observing 
just  now,  Mr.  Dysart  has  got  into  a  precious  hobble,  and  as 
the  recorder  will  make  his  report  at  the  beginning  of  next 
week,  it  will  be  all  dickey  with  your  husband  ten  days  hence 
if  so  be  nothing's  done  in  the  meantime.  Now  as  I've 
watched  Old  Bailey  cases  for  some  years  past,  and  am  pretty 
familiar  with  'em,  I  can  tell  your  ladyship  that  there's  no 
hope  of  a  reprieve,  much  less  of  pardon,  seeing  the  jury 
didn't  recommend  him  to  mercy.  It's  clear,  then,  —  and 
there's  no  use  in  deceiving  oneself,  —  that  he'll  be  scragged 
on  Monday  week;  and  so,  as  I've  a  great  respect  for  him,  I 


UNPLEASANT  VISITORS 


125 


want  to  know  what  you'll  give  if  I  help  him  to  escape  out 
of  Newgate." 

"  Escape!  cried  Ernestina,  recoiling  from  the  bare  idea 
of  a  result  which  would  fatally  frustrate  all  her  plans. 

Ah!  you  may  well  be  astonished  at  such  a  proposal, 
ma'am,"  said  Coffin,  entirely  mistaking  the  cause  of  her  sud- 
den start  and  emphatic  exclamation,  "  But  I  don't  think 
it's  altogether  impossible.  At  least  it's  worth  while  to  have 
a  try  for  it.  You  see  that  as  your  husband's  a  genelman 
and  connected  with  the  aristocracy,  he  will  be  allowed 
many  indulgences  which  poor  devils  in  trouble  couldn't 
obtain  for  either  love  or  money;  and  as  you  can  visit  him 
without  being  searched,  you  can  easily  take  him  a  file  and 
a  jimmy.  A  jimmy,  ma'am,  is  a  small  crowbar,  —  a  very 
handy  thing  at  times,  as  genelmen  of  the  crack  and  pannie 
profession  well  know.  It's  the  best  thing  to  open  a  shop 
with,  ma'am,  a  capital  stock  in  trade,  as  one  may  say,  for 
an  enterprising  individual  anxious  to  set  hisself  up  in  busi- 
ness. Well,  my  lady,  if  Mr.  Dysart  can  get  out  of  the  con- 
demned crib  and  manage  to  reach  the  roof  of  the  Stone  Jug, 
or  even  let  himself  into  one  of  the  yards,  I  could  have  a  party 
of  leary  chaps  all  in  readiness  outside  to  help  him  to  do  the 
rest;  and  then,  a  post-chaise  and  four  spanking  horses  being 
close  at  hand  —  " 

I  thank  you,"  interrupted  Ernestina,  who  had  listened 
thus  far  with  the  tortures  of  impatience,  but  your  proposal 
cannot  be  accepted.  My  uncle,  the  Marquis  of  Leveson, 
has  written  a  strong  and  appealing  letter  to  the  prince  regent 
on  my  unfortunate  husband's  behalf,  and  I  have  every  hope 
and  confidence  therein.  But  should  Mr.  Dysart  endeavour  to 
escape  and  be  caught  in  the  fact,  all  chance  of  reprieve  or 
pardon  would  be  frustrated.  I  shall  give  you  five  guineas  for 
your  trouble  in  calling  upon  me  —  " 

But  scarcely  had  Ernestina  taken  out  her  purse  as  she 
thus  spoke,  when  the  footman  entered  the  room,  saying, 

Mr.  Lawrence  Sampson  wishes  to  speak  to  your  ladyship." 

Coffin  had  started  up  the  instant  the  handle  of  the  door 
was  heard  to  turn,  and  thus  the  domestic  did  not  observe 
that  he  had  been  previously  sitting  in  a  familiar  manner  in 
Lady  Ernestina  Dysart's  company.  But  when  the  terrible 
name  of  the  Bow  Street  officer  was  mentioned,  the  Hang- 
man became  visibly  troubled.   Ernestina  saw  in  a  moment 


126  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


that  a  scene  was  to  be  avoided  in  the  presence  of  the  foot- 
man; and,  with  admirable  composure,  she  immediately  said. 

Show  Mr.  Sampson  into  the  adjoining  room." 

The  domestic  retired;  and  the  instant  the  door  closed 
behind  him,  the  lady  said,  in  a  hurried,  altered,  and  even 
hollow  tone,  "  Do  you  think  he  has  tracked  you  hither?  " 

It  looks  like  it,"  answered  Coffin.  And  yet,  if  he  had, 
he  wouldn't  send  in  to  say  he  wanted  to  speak  to  you,  but 
he  would  make  a  rush  of  it  at  once  with  his  runners,  or  else 
lie  in  wait  in  the  street  till  I  went  out  again." 

"  But  what  on  earth  can  he  want  with  me?  "  said  the 
lady,  trembUng  from  head  to  foot,  the  thought  of  the  tragedy 
at  the  Blackheath  villa  being  uppermost  in  her  mind. 

"  Oh,  he  doesn't  want  you,  ma'am,  for  any  harm,"  re- 
turned Daniel  Coffin;  or  else  he'd  have  come  bang  in  and 
have  taken  you  at  once.  I'm  up  to  all  the  dodges  of  these 
rum  customers.  Most  likely,  after  all,  he's  got  a  scent  of  me; 
and  not  being  quite  sure  of  it,  is  come  to  ask  whether  such  a 
genelman  as  Mr.  Dan'el  Coffin  has  paid  your  ladyship  a  visit 
this  evening.   You'd  better  not  keep  him  waiting." 

"  No,  it  would  be  imprudent,"  said  Ernestina.  Then, 
somewhat  reassured  by  the  observations  of  the  Hangman 
relative  to  herself,  she  placed  the  five  guineas  upon  the  table, 
observing,  You  can  leave  the  house  quietly  in  a  few 
moments." 

She  then  quitted  the  apartment;  and  summoning  all  her 
courage  to  her  aid,  she  entered  the  adjoining  room,  where 
Mr.  Sampson  rose  from  a  seat  and  made  her  a  profound 
salutation. 

"  Your  ladyship  will  pardon  me  for  intruding  at  this  late 
hour,  and  at  a  moment  when  your  ladyship's  grief  must  be 
so  acute  after  the  sad  result  of  to-day,"  began  the  officer; 
"  but  I  am  sure  that  when  I  mention  the  object  of  my  in- 
trusion, and  when  I  add  that  I  shall  not  detain  your  ladyship 
three  minutes  —  " 

You  need  not  apologize,  Mr.  Sampson,"  interrupted 
Ernestina,  now  regaining  complete  confidence,  as  she  felt 
assured  that  neither  his  manner  nor  his  words  denoted  a 
hostile  intent.  I  am  indeed  overwhelmed  with  sorrow; 
but  you  must  not  think  that  I  bear  any  ill  will  toward  your- 
self. I  know  that  in  arresting  my  husband,  you  only  did 
your  duty/' 


UNPLEASANT  VISITORS 


127 


Thank  your  ladyship  for  that  acknowledgment,"  said 
the  officer. 

"  Be  seated,  Mr.  Sampson,"  continued  Ernestina,  affably 
motioning  toward  a  chair,  but  principally  exhibiting  this 
courtesy  in  order  to  gain  sufficient  time  to  enable  Daniel 
Coffin  to  effect  a  safe  retreat  from  the  house;  then,  as  she 
herself  took  a  seat,  she  said,  And  now,  Mr.  Sampson, 
you  can  explain  the  purpose  of  your  visit." 

As  Ernestina  spoke,  she  affected  a  profound  mournf ulness ; 
and  now  she  held  her  handkerchief  to  her  face  as  if  to  conceal 
her  tears  on  account  of  her  husband,  but  really  to  veil  the 
emotion  which  she  might  experience  in  case  Sampson  ad- 
dressed her  upon  any  unpleasant  topic.  And  it  was  well  that 
she  took  this  precaution;  for  the  very  first  words  which  he 
proceeded  to  utter  in  explanation  of  his  visit  sent  the  blood 
with  an  ice-chill  to  her  heart  and  made  her  entire  form 
thrill  with  horror  and  alarm. 

Your  ladyship  is  probably  aware  that  in  the  month  of 
June  last  Sir  Archibald  Malvern,  a  baronet  living  in  Hanover 
Square,  disappeared  suddenly  and  in  a  most  mysterious 
manner.  His  son,  Mr.  Valentine,  —  or  Sir  Valentine,  as  he 
ought  perhaps  to  be  called,  —  entrusted  to  me  the  duty  of 
making  all  possible  researches  to  ascertain  the  fate  of  his 
parent ;  but  my  proceedings  and  inquiries  in  the  matter  have 
hitherto  proved  completely  abortive.  This  evening,  however, 
an  incident  has  transpired  which  seems  to  throw  a  glimmer 
of  light,  faint  and  feeble,  it  is  true,  upon  the  occurrence." 

"  But  how  can  this  possibly  regard  me,  Mr.  Sampson?  " 
inquired  Ernestina,  anxious  to  be  relieved  from  the  tortures 
of  an  excruciating  suspense;  and  removing  her  handkerchief 
from  her  face,  she  threw  a  hurried  glance  upon  him;  then, 
perceiving  that  there  was  nothing  ominous  in  his  looks  nor 
manner,  she  felt  her  courage  revive. 

"  It  does  not  regard  your  ladyship,"  was  the  answer; 
"  but  it  may  regard  Mr.  Dysart." 

Good  heavens!  surely  you  would  not  attribute  to  him 
the  perpetration  of  such  a  crime!  "  exclaimed  Ernestina. 
"  Is  he  not  sufficiently  crushed  —  " 

"  Pardon  me,  my  lady,"  interrupted  Sampson;  "  but  no 
suspicion  of  the  sort  has  been  excited  with  respect  to  your 
ladyship's  husband.  Grant  me  a  few  minutes,  and  I  will 
explain  myself.  I  must  inform  your  ladyship,  in  the  strictest 


128  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


confidence,  that  Mr.  Dysart's  arrest  took  place  at  Beechey 
Manor  in  consequence  of  an  anonymous  letter  sent  early 
the  same  morning  to  Bow  Street,  and  which  was  instantane- 
ously placed  by  the  magistrate  in  my  hands." 

An  anonymous  letter!  "  exclaimed  Ernestina,  with  well- 
affected  surprise  and  indignation. 

Yes,  here  it  is,"  said  Larry  Sampson,  as  he  produced  her 
own  note  and  handed  it  to  her,  —  that  same  note  which  she 
had  despatched  by  old  Underdown  to  the  office  at  Bow 
Street,  as  the  reader  cannot  fail  to  remember. 

She  took  it  with  trembling  hands  and  pale  countenance; 
and  as  she  pretended  to  run  her  eyes  over  its  contents  — 
those  well-known  contents  —  she  made  a  desperate  struggle 
to  regain  her  courage. 

Your  ladyship  may  well  be  annoyed,"  observed  Sampson, 
for  even  the  astute  and  cunning  officer  was  liable  to  mistake 
the  causes  of  emotion  and  excitement  now  and  then.  "  You 
are  disgusted  at  the  treachery  practised  by  the  anonymous 
correspondent,  and  you  are  shocked  at  observing  the  hand- 
writing to  be  that  of  a  lady,  and  evidently  an  accomplished 
one." 

"Ah!  Dysart  has  proved  false  to  me,  and  it  is  doubtless 
his  mistress  who  thus  betrayed  him,"  cried  Ernestina,  with 
all  the  appearance  of  the  most  genuine  anguish.  ^'  But 
what  has  this  to  do  with  the  disappearance  of  Sir  Archibald 
Malvern?  " 

"  I  will  tell  your  ladyship.  This  evening  Mr.  Valentine 
Malvern  called  upon  me,  as  he  often  does,  to  inquire  whether 
I  had  made  any  progress  in  my  researches.  I  received  him 
in  a  room  where  a  number  of  papers  lay  scattered  upon  a 
table.  This  letter  was  unguardedly  left  amongst  them;  in 
fact,  it  lay  open.  His  eye  happened  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  it; 
he  seized  it,  greedily  devoured  its  contents,  examined  the 
writing  with  the  utmost  attention,  and  then  cried  out,  '  Yes, 
'tis  the  same,  'tis  the  same!  '  To  be  brief,  he  explained  to 
me  that  amongst  his  father's  papers  he  had  some  weeks  back 
discovered  a  note  in  a  beautiful  female  hand,  but  without 
date,  address,  or  signature,  and  the  contents  of  which, 
though  worded  with  a  caution  amounting  to  ambiguity, 
indicated  a  gallant  intrigue.  The  handwriting  of  that  tender 
epistle  and  of  this  anonymous  letter  are  the  same,  and  Mr. 
Valentine  Malvern  had  instantaneously  recognized  the  fact. 


UNPLEASANT  VISITORS 


129 


What,  then,  is  the  inference  which  he  drew?  Why,  that  the 
writer  of  the  anonymous  letter  is  most  probably  known  to 
Mr.  Dysart,  —  perhaps  some  lady  who  has  a  spite  against 
him;  and  if  it  could  be  ascertained  who  she  is,  it  would,  as 
a  matter  of  course,  at  the  same  time  establish  the  identity  of 
the  fair  and  frail  correspondent  of  the  lost  Sir  Archibald 
Malvern.  Not  that  even  this  discovery  might  clear  up  the 
mystery  of  his  disappearance;  still  there  is  just  the  possibility 
that  it  would  do  so,  and  Mr.  Valentine  is  naturally  impelled 
by  a  restless  anxiety  to  leave  no  stone  unturned  in  the  in- 
vestigation of  his  father's  fate." 

"I  understand,  Mr.  Sampson;  it  is  natural  —  very 
natural,"  said  Ernestina,  now  terribly  alarmed  lest  the  ofl&cer 
should  take  it  into  his  head  to  go  and  question  her  husband 
upon  the  subject  and  show  him  the  anonymous  letter,  the 
writing  of  which  he  could  not  fail  to  recognize  as  her  own. 

But  wherefore  have  you  come  to  me?  "  she  asked,  in  order 
to  glean  his  views  and  intentions. 

"  Mr.  Valentine  Malvern  begged  and  implored  that  I 
would  lose  no  time  in  seeing  your  ladyship  upon  the  sub- 
ject; for  he  thought  that  painful  as  it  must  be  to  either 
your  husband  or  yourself  to  be  intruded  upon  at  such  a 
moment,  it  would  notwithstanding  be  less  improper  or 
indelicate  under  existing  circumstances  to  appeal  to  your 
ladyship  than  to  Mr.  Dysart  in  the  matter." 

The  handwriting  is  altogether  unknown  to  me,  Mr. 
Sampson,"  said  Ernestina;  "  nor  am  I  aware  that  my 
unfortunate  husband  had  any  reason  to  fear  a  lady's  ran- 
corous revenge.  But  if  you  will  leave  this  note  with  me,  I 
will  break  the  subject  to  him  to-morrow." 

"Ah!  if  your  ladyship  would  be  so  kind!  "  exclaimed 
Sampson.  "  I  know  it  must  be  a  painful  task  for  you  to 
undertake,  and  that  it  cannot  be  otherwise  than  repugnant 
to  your  feelings;  but  when  your  ladyship  reflects  that  a  clue 
might  be  formed  to  the  clearing  up  of  a  deep  mystery  —  " 
I  am  quite  ready  to  sacrifice  my  own  feelings  in  the 
matter  for  the  sake  of  a  fellow  creature,"  observed  Lady 
Ernestina  Dysart;  and  as  I  had  some  slight  acquaintance 
with  Sir  Archibald  Malvern,  and  his  son  is  not  altogether 
a  stranger  to  me,  it  will  afford  me  a  melancholy  satisfaction, 
in  the  midst  of  my  own  deep  sorrows,  to  be  in  any  way 
serviceable  in  this  matter." 


130  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  Your  ladyship  will  ensure  the  lasting  gratitude  of  Mr. 
Valentine  Malvern,"  said  Larry  Sampson,  rising  from  his 
seat.  "  I  will  take  the  liberty  of  calling  to-morrow  evening 
to  learn  the  result  of  your  ladyship's  interview  with  Mr. 
Dysart,  so  far  as  this  business  is  concerned.'' 

The  Bow  Street  officer  then  took  his  departure,  to  the 
infinite  relief  of  Lady  Ernestina,  who  had  passed  through 
an  ordeal  of  harrowing  tortures,  bewildering  sensations,  and 
poignant  memories  during  this  interview. 

But  the  moment  the  door  of  the  apartment  closed  behind 
Mr.  Lawrence  Sampson,  she  flung  the  anonymous  letter  into 
the  fire;  and  as  she  beheld  it  flame  up  and  consume,  she 
murmured  to  herself,  Thus  perish  the  only  evidence  that 
existed  of  my  perfidy  toward  Dysart." 

She  then  bethought  herself  of  Daniel  Coffin  the  Hangman; 
and  returning  into  the  room  where  she  had  left  him,  she 
found  it  unoccupied,  and  therefore  concluded  he  had  taken 
his  departure.  Banishing  him  from  her  thoughts,  she  now 
sat  down  to  her  writing-desk  and  penned  the  ensuing  note: 

"  Leveson  House,  Oct.  11,  1814. 
"  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart  presents  her  dutiful  compli- 
ments to  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent,  and  humbly 
requests  that  his  Royal  Highness  will  honour  her  with  a  call 
to-morrow  at  eleven  o'clock  punctually.  Lady  Ernestina 
is  well  aware  that  under  ordinary  circumstances  this  demand 
would  savour  of  the  most  insolent  presumption;  but  as  the 
circumstances  are  extraordinary  and  peculiar,  she  ventures 
to  hope  that  his  Royal  Highness  will  vouchsafe  comphance 
with  her  prayer,  and  that  the  visit  thus  besought  will  be 
paid  with  as  much  privacy  as  possible." 

Having  sealed  and  addressed  this  billet,  Ernestina  gave 
it  to  a  domestic  to  take  at  once  to  Carlton  House;  and  as  it 
was  now  past  ten  o'clock  and  she  was  wearied  with  the  ex- 
citing occurrences  of  the  day,  she  retired  to  her  own  chamber. 

But  in  the  meantime,  what  had  really  become  of  Mr. 
Daniel  Coffin? 

When  left  by  himself  in  the  dining-room,  he  suddenly  fell 
into  a  profound  perplexity  how  to  act.  The  visit  of  Mr. 
Lawrence  Sampson  was,  to  say  the  least,  alarming;  and 
despite  all  the  reasoning  which  the  Hangman  conjured  up 


UNPLEASANT  VISITORS 


131 


to  persuade  himself  that  the  officer's  presence  had  no  refer- 
ence to  him,  his  evil  conscience  would  not  allow  this  idea 
to  be  so  easily  relied  upon.  That  Sampson  might  have 
entered  the  house  upon  some  pretext,  but  with  the  real  ob- 
ject of  making  a  reconnoitre,  was  probable  enough;  and  in 
this  case  he  had  doubtless  planted  his  followers  in  the  street. 
At  all  events,  Daniel  Coffin  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  issue 
forth  at  once;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  he  could  not  very 
well  remain  in  the  dining-room,  during  Ernestina's  absence, 
without  exciting  the  suspicions  of  any  domestic  who  might 
chance  to  enter  it. 

He  knew  not  exactly  what  to  do ;  and  it  was  without  any 
fixed  intention,  but  in  obedience  to  one  of  those  vague  and 
undefined  impulses  which  often  prompt  desperate  men 
that  he  gently  opened  the  dining-room  door  and  looked  out 
into  the  hall.  The  porter  had  gone  down  to  supper;  not  a 
living  soul  met  the  Hangman's  view  by  the  light  of  the  lamp 
suspended  to  the  ceiling  in  the  hall. 

A  thought  struck  him.  He  had  been  told  by  the  domestic, 
on  his  arrival,  that  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  was  away  from 
home;  and  Ernestina  was  therefore  mistress  of  the  estab- 
lishment in  her  noble  uncle's  absence.  What  if  he  were  to 
hide  himself  for  a  few  hours,  until  the  next  night  even,  in  one 
of  the  unoccupied  apartments  of  the  spacious  dwelHng? 
Were  he  discovered,  Ernestina  must  be  appealed  to  in  order 
to  decide  how  the  intruder  was  to  be  disposed  of;  and  she 
dared  not  deal  harshly  with  him.  On  the  contrary,  he  would 
be  safe  beneath  her  protection.  But  then,  as  to  food?  He 
could  very  well  wait  four  and  twenty  hours  in  a  fasting  con- 
dition when  his  personal  security  was  concerned;  and,  at 
all  events,  it  would  be  better  to  incur  any  risk  or  privation 
within  the  house  than  stand  the  chance  of  encountering 
Mr.  Lawrence  Sampson's  myrmidons  outside  the  threshold. 

Rapid  as  thought  alone  can  travel  did  these  reflections 
sweep  through  the  brain  of  Daniel  Coffin  as  he  stood  at  the 
dining-room  door,  looking  forth  into  the  hall.  There  was  also 
something  in  the  adventure  that  pleased  him;  and  his  resolve 
was  soon  taken  accordingl}^  Hastily  ascending  the  great 
marble  staircase,  he  reached  the  landing  on  the  first  story, 
and  opened  the  nearest  door.  It  led  into  the  Crimson 
Drawing-room  which  has  been  mentioned  in  preceding 
chapters.    The  fire  was  smouldering  in  the  grate,  two  wax 


132  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


candles  were  burning  upon  the  mantelpiece,  and  a  tray, 
containing  a  couple  of  decanters  of  wine  and  a  dish  of  bis- 
cuits, stood  upon  the  table.  This  little  refreshment  had  been 
served  up  for  Mrs.  Owen  when  she  called  upon  the  marquis 
that  afternoon,  and  the  tray  had  not  been  removed. 

The  Hangman  was  well  pleased  at  the  sight  thereof;  and 
he  speedily  poured  at  least  a  pint  of  sherry  down  his  capa- 
cious throat.  This  was  so  much  to  his  taste  that  he  lost  no 
time  in  paying  his  respects  with  equal  devotion  to  the  port; 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  decanters  were  completely  drained. 
He  then  filled  one  of  his  ample  pockets  with  the  greater 
portion  of  the  biscuits;  and  having  thus  self -appropriated 
the  provender,  he  proceeded  to  examine  the  room  with  more 
attention  than  at  first. 

To  remain  concealed  here  was  hopeless.  The  domestics, 
ere  they  retired  for  the  night,  would  come  to  put  out  the  fire 
and  extinguish  the  candles.  Whither  should  he  go?  Scarcely 
had  he  asked  himself  this  question,  when  his  eyes  settled 
upon  a  door  opposite  to  the  one  by  which  he  had  entered. 
He  advanced  to  try  it,  but  found  it  locked.  This  was  no 
particularly  formidable  obstacle  to  Mr.  Daniel  Coffin.  He 
felt  in  his  pocket,  drew  forth  a  bunch  of  skeleton  keys,  and 
speedily  opened  the  door.  Taking  one  of  the  wax  tapers 
from  the  mantel,  he  passed  into  the  adjoining  room;  and 
now,  as  the  reader  will  no  doubt  have  already  understood, 
the  Hangman  had  entered  the  first  of  that  mysterious  suite 
of  apartments  which  Venetia  Trelawney  was  led  to  explore 
on  the  evening  of  her  visit  to  Leveson  House. 

Having  hastily  glanced  around  the  room,  which  we  have 
previously  described  as  small  but  luxuriously  furnished,  the 
Hangman  observed  that  there  were  wax  tapers  upon  the 
mantel.  He  accordingly  lighted  one  of  them,  and  then  took 
back  the  one  which  he  carried  in  his  hand  into  the  Crimson 
Drawing-room .  This  he  did  to  prevent  its  being  missed ; 
and  having  restored  it  to  its  place,  he  retraced  his  way  into 
the  other  apartment,  carefully  locking  himself  in  by  means 
of  the  skeleton  key  that  had  afforded  him  ingress. 

He  now  examined  this  room  with  admiration  and  dehght, 
muttering  to  himself  a  wish  that  he  was  the  owner  of  that 
Uttle  paradise.  Having  attentively  surveyed  the  sofas 
ranged  around  the  walls,  the  vases  of  flowers,  and  the 
various  articles  of  furniture,  his  eyes  were  uplifted  toward 


UNPLEASANT  VISITORS 


133 


the  silver  lamp  that  was  suspended  to  the  ceiling,  but  which 
was  not  burning  now.  After  contemplating  it  for  about  a 
minute,  he  stood  upon  a  chair  to  examine  it  more  closely; 
and  thus  convincing  himself  that  it  was  real  silver,  he  mut- 
tered, Old  Jeremy  would  give  me  a  pretty  penny  for  this. 
Well,  I  don't  think  I  need  go  away  empty-handed  when  I 
do  take  my  departure." 

Grimly  smiling  at  this  pleasant  conceit,  and  already  re- 
garding the  silver  lamp  as  his  own,  Mr.  Daniel  Coffin  de- 
scended from  the  chair,  took  a  taper  from  the  mantel,  and 
passed  into  the  adjoining  room.  This  was  smaller  but  more 
luxuriously  furnished  than  the  one  he  had  just  left;  and 
instead  of  sofas,  it  contained  a  number  of  large  and  massive 
armchairs,  each  provided  with  a  cushion  of  immense  size. 
But  there  was  no  choice  collection  of  fruits,  sweets,  and 
wines  now  upon  the  table,  nor  was  the  lamp  with  the  ground- 
glass  globe  now  lighted,  as  was  the  case  when  we  introduced 
Venetia  Trelawney  to  this  apartment. 

Without  pausing  many  minutes,  Daniel  Coffin  proceeded 
to  open  the  door  which  faced  him;  and,  still  holding  the 
taper  in  his  hand,  he  entered  the  gallery  of  pictures  and 
sculptures.  At  first  he  was  not  inclined  to  pay  much  at- 
tention to  these  works  of  art;  but  their  subjects  speedily 
altered  his  mood,  turning  his  indifference  into  eager  curiosity, 
wonder,  and  sensual  dehght.  We  have  already  in  a  previous 
chapter  depicted  a  few  of  the  statuary  groups  and  glanced 
at  one  of  the  pictures;  but  we  must  now  observe  that  there 
were  other  groups  and  other  pictures  the  flagrant  indecency 
of  which  would  even  have  brought  a  blush  to  the  cheeks  of 
the  inmates  of  a  brothel.  From  the  entrance  of  this  gallery 
to  the  farther  extremity,  the  works  of  art  became  successively 
more  and  more  indehcate,  as  if  the  whole  purpose  of  the 
arrangement  were  gradually  to  lead  on  the  imagination 
from  the  first  petty  shock,  through  all  the  phases  of  enhanc- 
ing allurement,  into  the  crowning  grossness  of  the  most 
nude  and  undisguised  lasciviousness. 

"  Well,  'pon  my  soul,  these  noblemen  are  precious  rum 
fellows  to  have  such  scenes  as  these  in  their  houses," 
thought  Daniel  Coffin  to  himself,  as  with  increasing  amaze- 
ment he  passed  along  the  gallery.  "  By  goles!  it  gets  worse 
and  worse.  If  anybody  had  told  me  he'd  seen  such  a  place 
in  a  nobleman's  mansion,  I  shouldn't  have  believed  him. 


134  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


And  now  that  I  recollect,  this  Marquis  of  Leveson  is  always 
holding  forth  in  the  House  of  Lords  about  the  bad  morals 
of  the  lower  orders  and  the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath. 
Well,  some  men  are  hypocrites  —  rank  impostors,  too. 
What  statues,  what  paintings!  The  farther  I  advance  the 
more  I  seem  to  learn  in  the  lessons  of  indecency.  I  suppose 
the  marquis  brings  his  ladies  here  sometimes.  I  wonder 
whether  his  niece  Ernestina  has  ever  set  foot  in  this  gallery. 
If  she  has,  she  can't  be  much  better  than  she  should  be; 
and  I  dare  say  she's  not,  too.  In  fact,  I  suppose  the  prince 
was  enticed  to  Beechey  Manor  that  night  to  be  captivated 
by  her  charms.  But  Dysart  kept  his  real  motive  snug 
enough,  whatever  it  was.  Well,  'pon  my  soul,  my  head 
begins  to  turn,  and  I  feel  all  nohow  looking  at  these  pictures 
and  images.  Why,  the  purest  virgin  that  ever  stepped  would 
leave  this  gallery  as  corrupt  in  mind  as  if  she  had  passed 
through  twenty  years  of  debauchery  and  profligacy.  Nell 
Gibson,  who  frequents  the  dark  crib  at  the  Folly  Bridges, 
isn't  so  bad  but  that  she'd  be  made  worse  by  a  ten  minutes' 
walk  up  and  down  this  gallery.  And  everything  is  so 
beautifully  done,  too,  the  paintings  as  well  as  the  statues! 
What  a  mint  of  money  all  this  must  have  cost,  and  what 
a  lot  of  sculptors  and  artists  must  have  been  employed  to 
furnish  so  many  different  things!  Ay,  and  doesn't  the  old 
marquis  come  at  times  and  gloat  over  them!  What  a  many 
women  have  no  doubt  lost  their  virtue  in  consequence  of  a 
visit  to  this  place;  and  what  tales  these  walls  could  tell  if 
they  only  had  the  gift  of  speech!  But  only  suppose  that  a 
poor  devil  was  to  be  seen  selling  cheap  pictures  and  prints 
half  so  bad  as  these  great  expensive  paintings,  wouldn't 
the  constables  be  down  upon  him  in  a  jiffy,  and  no  mistake!  " 

While  thus  musing,  Mr.  Daniel  Coffin  brought  his  inspec- 
tion of  the  gallery  to  a  close;  and  issuing  forth,  he  returned 
into  the  room  containing  the  large  armchairs. 

Well,  I  think  one  of  these  concerns  will  be  even  more 
comfortable  to  sleep  in  for  the  night  than  the  sofas  in  the 
room  beyond,"  he  thought  to  himself  as  he  glanced  slowly 
around.  Besides,  I  always  sleep  too  heavy  when  I  lay 
down,  and  I  mustn't  stand  a  chance  of  being  surprised 
napping." 

Having  come  to  this  conclusion,  the  Hangman  placed  the 
wax  candle  upon  the  table,  and  then  deposited  himself  in 


UNPLEASANT  VISITORS  135 

one  of  the  armchairs.  But  scarcely  had  he  dropped  his  person 
upon  the  voluptuous-looking  cushion  when  a  sharp  click,  like 
a  clock  giving  warning,  struck  his  startled  ear;  and  at  the 
same  instant  his  wrists  were  caught  in  the  manacles  and  his 
shoulders  were  fast  griped  by  the  strong  steel  bands  that 
sprang  forth  from  the  woodwork  of  the  treacherous  chair. 

"  Perdition!  "  ejaculated  the  Hangman,  with  a  desperate 
struggle  to  release  himself. 

But  his  efforts  would  not  have  been  more  vain  or  futile 
had  a  tremendous  boa-constrictor  suddenly  wound  its  mas- 
sive coils  around  him;  the  manacles  were  immovable,  the 
steel  bands  held  his  shoulders  in  an  inextricable  gripe,  and 
the  very  chair  itself  was  solidly  fastened  by  the  legs  to  the 
floor. 

Finding  that  his  endeavours  were  useless,  and  exhausted 
by  their  unavailing  strenuousness,  the  Hangman  suddenly 
desisted  from  any  further  struggling  with  the  treacherous 
chair  and  its  potent  mechanism;  and  as  a  subdued  impreca- 
tion fell  from  his  lips,  the  chill  sweat  of  profound  terror  burst 
forth  all  over  him,  saturating  his  very  garments  and  making 
his  shirt  cling  to  him  like  the  cold,  clammy  grave-clothes  of 
the  dead. 


CHAPTER  XII 


ERNESTINA  AND  THE  PRINCE 

It  was  about  eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  of  the  day 
following  the  incidents  just  related,  and  Ernestina  was  alone 
in  the  Crimson  Drawing-room. 

She  was  seated  near  a  harp,  and  it  was  evident  from  her 
looks  and  her  manner  that  she  was  studying  a  part  which 
she  had  to  play.  We  do  not  mean  aught  in  reference  to 
music,  although  the  instrument  was  there  close  at  hand,  but 
in  reference  to  coquetry  and  seductive  allurement. 

Her  hair  was  arranged  in  massive  bands  over  her  alabaster 
temples,  and  gathered  with  a  graceful  sweep  in  such  a  way 
that  it  showed  the  small  and  well-folded  ears.  She  had 
selected  a  dress  which  displayed  her  fine  form  to  its  most 
exciting  and  sensuous  advantage,  leaving  the  white  plump 
shoulders  bare,  and  allowing  the  grand  fulness  of  the  bosom 
to  swell  in  more  than  half  its  glowing  amplitude  above  the 
body  of  the  robe.  By  a  gentle  inclination  of  her  figure 
toward  the  harp,  she  was  enabled  to  give  her  bright  and 
polished  neck  so  swanlike  a  curve  that  nothing  could  exceed 
the  beauty  of  its  arching  gracefulness;  and,  with  an  ad- 
mirable prescience  of  coquettish  effect  mingled  with  a 
seductive  languor,  she  knew  that  this  position  would  enable 
the  eye  of  a  beholder  to  trace  the  symmetry  of  that  sweet  neck 
in  its  gradual  and  downward  expansion  into  the  noble  foun- 
dation on  which  it  rested. 

The  volume  and  voluptuous  form  of  her  bust  were  in  this 
manner  developed  to  the  fullest  advantage;  and  as  she 
leaned  toward  the  harp  with  all  the  seeming  ease  and  grace- 
fulness of  this  really  studied  attitude,  she  threw  into  her 
looks  a  melancholy  softness  which  added  to  the  power  of 
her  great  beauty.    Her  whole  figure  was  thus  sensuously 

136 


ERNESTINA  AND  THE  PRINCE  137 


languid  and  voluptuously  drooping;  her  eyes  were  half- 
veiled  by  the  long  lashes  beneath  which  their  expression 
became  all  the  more  wanton,  and  the  ripeness  and  fulness 
of  her  shape  bespoke  a  subdued  passion  as  profound  and  as 
luxurious  as  the  looks  that  shone  from  under  the  softly 
drooping  lids. 

It  was  a  very  cold,  damp,  raw  October  day,  with  a  leaden 
sky  and  a  misty  atmosphere;  but  the  air  of  the  Crimson 
Drawing-room  was  warm  and  perfumed.  A  cheerful  fire 
blazed  in  the  grate,  and  the  porcelain  vases  exhaled  a  de- 
licious fragrance  that  stole  upon  the  sense  without  overpow- 
ering it. 

But  why,  just  as  the  timepiece  upon  the  mantel  struck 
eleven,  did  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart  assume  that  studied  air 
of  mournful  pensiveness  and  sensuous  languor  as  she  bent 
toward  the  harp?  Because  a  carriage  had  that  moment 
stopped  at  the  front  door,  and  she  was  at  no  loss  to  conjecture 
who  the  visitant  was. 

In  less  than  a  minute  a  domestic  entered,  announcing  his 
Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent.  The  man  immediately 
retired,  closing  the  door  behind  him;  but  Ernestina  retained 
that  pensive  attitude,  as  if  she  were  so  profoundly  absorbed 
in  her  reflections  that  she  heard  not  the  entrance  of  the  prince 
nor  the  annunciation  of  his  name. 

We  must  here  pause  for  a  moment  to  state  that  his  Royal 
Highness  had  called  in  compliance  with  Ernestina's  note. 
He  was  not  aware  that  he  had  as  yet  ever  seen  this  lady,  but 
he  had  heard  much  of  her  beauty,  and  he  was  not  the  man 
to  let  pass  the  opportunity  of  satisfying  himself  whether 
report  spoke  truly  in  that  respect.  Besides,  he  fancied  that 
her  ladyship  might  have  something  important  to  communi- 
cate from  her  uncle,  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  of  whose 
abrupt  departure  for  the  Continent  he  was  already  aware. 
Several  reasons  therefore  induced  him,  even  at  some  little 
inconvenience,  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  Lady  Ernestina 
Dysart's  note;  but  now  that  he  was  ushered  into  the  room 
where  she  was  seated,  he  was  somewhat  surprised  to  observe 
the  deep  absorption  and  pensiveness  of  her  attitude. 

Her  back  was  turned  toward  him  as  she  sat  bending  over 
the  harp.  He  stood  still  for  a  few  moments,  struck  by  the 
dazzling  whiteness  of  her  neck  and  shoulders,  the  elegant 
shape  of  her  head,  and  the  flowing  outlines  of  her  figure. 


138  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Still  she  remained  motionless.  He  advanced  a  little,  and 
now  obtained  a  glimpse  of  the  bust  which  glowed  in  the  un- 
veiled luxuriance  of  its  charms  against  the  harp.  Upon  that 
grandly  developed  bosom  did  the  eyes  of  the  royal  voluptu- 
ary settle;  and  at  the  same  instant  Ernestina,  affecting 
still  to  remain  unconscious  of  his  presence,  and  with  half- 
averted  countenance,  began  to  touch  the  strings  of  the 
instrument. 

She  was  an  accomplished  musician,  and  the  harp  gave 
forth  such  sounds  that  ravished  the  ears  of  the  prince.  The 
melody  stole  softly  and  sensuously  upon  him,  in  unison  with 
the  voluptuous  feeUngs  engendered  by  the  beauteous  form 
on  which  his  eyes  rested.  The  very  warmth  of  the  room  and 
fragrance  of  the  atmosphere  increased  this  melting  effect, 
dissolving  all  his  soul  into  an  ineffable  tenderness.  He  stood 
like  one  enchanted;  his  pulses  thrilled,  the  colour  deepened 
upon  his  countenance,  his  eyes  swam  in  passion's  liquid  fire. 
It  seemed  as  if  some  unknown  paradise  on  earth  were  open- 
ing to  his  comprehension  at  a  moment  when  he  had  little 
expected  that  any  such  blissful  development  was  in  store  for 
him. 

And  now,  gradually  did  the  lady  turn  her  countenance 
in  such  a  way  toward  the  harp  that  he  caught  her  profile 
with  that  half-vanishing  effect  which  Rembrandt  loved  so 
well  to  depict  upon  his  canvas;  and  as  the  light,  borrowing 
a  roseate  tint  from  the  hue  of  the  crimson  curtains  which 
shaded  the  windows,  fell  upon  that  faultless  profile,  the 
prince  started  with  a  sudden  recollection.  But  the  lady  still 
affected  to  perceive  him  not,  and  at  the  instant  that  he  thus 
started,  she  made  the  splendid  instrument  give  forth  such 
a  glorious  volume  of  gushing  golden  melody  that  he  was 
again  struck  motionless  and  transfixed  with  ineffable  rapture. 

But  now  he  studied  that  profile  intently;  he  marked  also 
the  glossy  light  brown  hair,  the  high  and  polished  brow.  He 
saw  the  long  silken  lashes,  he  observed  the  dark  eye  flashing 
beneath ;  he  traced  the  outline  of  the  aquiline  nose,  the  well- 
cut  lips  of  vivid  scarlet,  and  the  softly  rounded  chin.  Then 
again  did  his  looks  settle  upon  the  grand  exuberance  of  the 
bosom  that  was  now  heaving  visibly,  white  as  snow,  but 
warm  and  glowing  to  the  eye;  and  then  his  looks  once  again 
travelled  upward  to  the  face  which  was  gradually  turning 
more  and  more  toward  him.    The  seashell  pink  which 


ERNESTINA  AND  THE  PRINCE  139 


naturally  belonged  to  her  complexion  was  now  deepening 
into  the  rich  carnation  hue;  the  blush  gradually  descended 
to  her  neck,  thence  suffusing  itself  over  her  bosom;  and  the 
longer  the  prince  gazed,  the  more  convinced  did  he  become 
that  his  lips  had  glued  themselves  in  impassioned  kisses  to 
those  glowing  cheeks,  that  his  hand  had  pressed  and  his 
head  been  pillowed  upon  that  heaving,  swelling  bosom,  and 
that  the  entire  form  had  lain  palpitating  with  love  and 
desire  in  his  arms. 

Slowly  now  did  Ernestina  raise  her  head  and  turn  her  eyes 
toward  him,  —  those  large  lustrous  eyes  looking  up  full  into 
his,  and  swimming  with  that  Oriental  languor  which  he 
had  observed  and  which  had  ravished  him  before.  Ay,  and 
he  was  no  longer  uncertain  nor  in  doubt  as  to  where  and  when 
those  seductive  looks  had  previously  shed  their  Elysian 
influence  upon  his  soul ;  and  falling  on  his  knees  at  the  lady's 
feet,  he  exclaimed,  Heavens!  are  you  my  lovely  unknown 
—  unknown  no  longer  —  but  Ernestina  Dysart?  " 

"  Oh,  then  you  are  not  angry  with  me,  beloved  prince?  " 
murmured  the  siren,  flinging  her  snowy  arms  around  his 
neck. 

"  Angry  with  you  —  impossible!  "  cried  the  royal  volup- 
tuary, straining  her  to  him  even  as  he  knelt,  and  covering 
her  warm  and  glowing  cheeks  with  passionate  kisses.  "  But 
what  means  this  mystery?  "  he  exclaimed,  at  length,  rising 
and  taking  a  chair  by  her  side.  "  Are  you  really  Lady 
Ernestina  Dysart,  the  niece  of  my  friend  Leveson?  And  if  so, 
what  meant  that  scene  of  mingled  outrage,  mystery,  and 
love  which  characterized  the  night  of  our  first  acquaintance?" 

"  I  will  tell  you  everything  in  good  time,  my  dear  prince,'^ 
answered  the  lady,  as  she  lavished  upon  him  the  tenderest 
caresses  with  an  appearance  of  the  fondest  affection.  But 
whatever  the  explanations  may  be,  promise  — 

I  can  promise  anything,  everything,  to  such  a  charmer  as 
you,"  interrupted  the  prince,  his  head  already  turning  with 
blissful  rapture,  as  on  the  night  at  Beechey  Manor.  ''Ah! 
how  rejoiced  I  am  that  we  have  met  again!  "  and  he  devoured 
her  cheeks,  her  neck,  and  her  bosom  with  his  burning  kisses. 

But  tell  me  what  you  have  to  say,  and  then  —  and  then  — 
talk  to  me  of  love,  only  of  love!  " 

"  Listen  patiently,  if  you  will,  and  attentively,  if  you  can, 
for  a  few  minutes,"  said  Ernestina,  with  a  smile  of  such 


140  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


delicious  archness  and  with  a  look  of  such  wanton  meaning 
that  a  lava-stream  of  fierce  and  fiery  passion  boiled  in  the 
veins  of  the  amorous  prince;  for  her  lips  revealed  rows  of 
pearl  and  seemed  to  breathe  the  ambrosial  fragrance  of 
paradise,  and  her  glances  went  with  an  electric  influence  to 
his  very  heart's  core. 

"  Let  me  pillow  my  head  here/^  he  said,  reclining  it  upon 
her  shoulder;     and  now  proceed.   I  am  all  attention." 

In  the  first  place,  then,"  she  resumed,  you  must  know 
that  I  am  really  that  same  Ernestina  whom  you  have  named, 
and  that  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  is  my  uncle.  Before  I 
married  that  wretched  being,  Dysart,  and  when  I  was  living 
beneath  this  roof,  my  uncle  would  never  allow  me  to  meet 
your  Royal  Highness  when  you  called.  He  took  every  pre- 
caution to  prevent  me  from  being  seen  by  you  —  " 

''Ah!  the  sly  dog,"  murmured  the  prince;  ''  he  knew 
that  to  behold  you  would  be  to  love  you.  But  go  on,  my 
dear  Ernestina,  go  on." 

"  Moreover,"  she  continued,  "  he  would  never  permit  me 
to  attend  any  balls  or  parties  at  which  you  were  likely  to 
be  present,  and  he  invariably  found  some  excuse  for  not 
introducing  me  at  court.  After  my  marriage,  —  my  un- 
fortunate, unhappy,  hated  marriage —  " 

"Ah!  you  do  not  love  your  husband,  then?  "  said  the 
prince. 

I  hate,  I  detest,  I  abhor  him!  "  cried  Ernestina  em- 
phatically. Besides,"  she  immediately  added,  in  a  sub- 
dued and  murmuring  tone,  "  I  love  you  —  and  you  only!  " 

"  Thanks  for  that  assurance,  my  angel,"  said  the  prince, 
pressing  her  warmly  toward  him;  and  for  the  time  being 
even  the  incomparable  Venetia  Trelawney  was  forgotten 
by  the  royal  voluptuary.  ''  But  what  were  you  going  to 
observe?  —  that  after  your  marriage  —  " 

"  I  was  cut  out,  as  it  were,  from  that  society  in  which  alone 
I  was  hkely  to  meet  your  Royal  Highness." 

"  Do  not  Royal  Highness  me,"  murmured  the  prince. 
"  Let  me  be  George  or  anything  else  you  Uke  to  you." 

"  Dear,  dear  George,"  said  Ernestina,  pressing  her  lips 
to  his  own.  "  But  I  will  not  weary  you  with  a  long  story. 
You  are  aware  that  Dysart  killed  Sefton  in  a  duel  —  " 

"  And  he  was  condemned  to  death  yesterday,"  exclaimed 
the  prince.   "  But  what  was  that  paper  which  I  signed  —  " 


•"LET  ME  PILLOW  MY  HEAD  HERE*" 

Original  etching  by  Marcel 


ERNESTINA  AND  THE  PRINCE  141 


"  Here  it  is  —  read  it,  George/'  interrupted  the  lady,  pro- 
ducing the  document  from  beneath  the  cushion  of  a  sofa,  and 
displaying  it  to  the  view  of  his  Royal  Highness. 

The  prince,  suffering  his  curiosity  to  distract  him  for  a  few 
moments  from  his  dream  of  voluptuous  bliss,  took  the  paper 
and  read  it.  But  when  he  found  that  it  was  in  fact  an  ac- 
knowledgment on  his  part  of  a  criminal  correspondence  with 
Lady  Ernestina  Dysart,  and  a  solemn  undertaking  to  grant 
a  free  pardon  to  her  husband,  whatever  sentence  a  criminal 
tribunal  might  pass  upon  him,  a  feeling  of  indignation  sprang 
up  in  his  soul,  and,  turning  his  eyes  reproachfully  upon  his 
fair  companion,  he  said,  And  you  were  a  party  to  this 
precious  document?  " 

"  Hear  me,  prince,  hear  me,  dearest  George,  and  do  not 
prejudge  me!  "  she  exclaimed,  redoubling  the  fond  ardour 
of  her  caresses,  and  immediately  bringing  all  the  wanton 
witcheries  of  seductive  artifice  to  play  their  artillery  upon 
him  again. 

"  But  let  us  first  destroy  this  paper,  my  love,"  said  the 
prince;  "  that  is,  if  you  really  have  any  regard  and  affection 
for  me/' 

"  Destroy  it  if  you  will,"  observed  Ernestina,  her  manner 
suddenly  changing  into  coldness;  "  but  in  that  case  I  shall 
be  ruined,  and  you  will  be  exposed." 

^'  What  mean  you?   Speak!  "  cried  the  prince. 

"  If  the  paper  be  destroyed,  Dysart  will  proclaim  to  the 
world  all  that  occurred  at  Beechey  Manor,"  responded  the 
lady.  Thus  my  reputation  will  be  wrecked,  and  yours 
will  sustain  no  advantage." 

"  But  do  you  wish  me  to  comply  with  the  guarantee  con- 
tained in  this  document? "  demanded  the  bewildered 
prince.  ^*  Do  you  wish  me  to  exercise  my  prerogative  as 
regent  and  grant  a  free  pardon  to  your  husband?  I  thought 
you  said  just  now  that  you  hated,  loathed,  and  abhorred  him." 

"  And  I  repeat  those  expressions  now,"  exclaimed  Ernes- 
tina. "  Yes,  I  hate,  loathe,  and  abhor  him;  and  it  is  pre- 
cisely because  I  wish  to  leave  him  to  his  doom  that  I  enjoin 
you  not  to  destroy  that  paper,  but  on  the  contrary  help  me 
in  deluding  and  beguiUng  the  wretched  man  to  the  very  last. 
By  so  doing,  he  will  retain  our  secret,  he  will  not  be  goaded 
by  rage  or  despair  to  proclaim  it  to  the  world,  and  neither 
your  reputation  nor  my  own  need  suffer." 


142  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


^'  But  what  purposes  have  you  in  view,  Ernestina,  and 
how  do  you  propose  to  carry  out  your  aims?  "  asked  the 
prince,  now  beginning  to  comprehend  the  wily  lady's  mean- 
ing. 

Listen  attentively,"  she  said,  throwing  her  arms  about 
his  neck  and  drawing  him  toward  her  in  such  a  manner  that 
his  ear  came  close  to  her  lips;  and  then  she  whispered  long 
and  earnestly. 

"  Yes,  it  can  be  managed  in  that  way,  and  it  must  be 
done  so,"  said  the  prince,  in  a  musing  tone,  when  she  had 
ceased  speaking.  "  But  have  you  the  nerve,  the  tact,  the 
courage  to  carry  out  the  plan  to  the  very  last  moment?  " 

"  By  all  the  wrongs  I  have  sustained  at  his  hands,"  re- 
turned the  lady,  in  a  low  voice  that  was  full  of  concentrated 
bitterness,  "  I  swear  that  I  am  as  remorseless  in  my  ven- 
geance as  I  am  capable  of  being  fervid,  enthusiastic,  and 
devoted  in  love." 

"  I  believe  you,  dearest  Ernestina,  I  believe  you,"  said 
the  prince,  now  again  melting  beneath  the  influence  of  her 
blandishments.  And  remember,  I  trust  entirely  to  you, 
I  confide  in  you  altogether." 

My  love  toward  you  is  the  proof  of  my  sincerity,"  mur- 
mured the  lady,  redoubling  the  ardour  of  her  caresses  and 
exciting  the  prince  to  tender  dalliance. 

"  Well,  let  me  write  what  you  require  upon  the  margin 
of  that  document,"  he  said;  "  and  then,  as  I  ere  now  ob- 
served, we  can  talk  of  love  —  and  only  of  love." 

Thus  speaking,  the  prince  rose  and  placed  himself  at  a 
table  on  which  there  were  writing-materials. 

Now  dictate  to  me,  my  charming  preceptress,  what  I 
am  to  say,"  he  observed,  taking  up  a  pen  and  preparing  to 
write. 

"Let  the  annotation  run  thus,"  said  Ernestina,  bending 
over  him,  with  one  arm  thrown  about  his  neck:  "  '  1  have 
reperused  this  paper  and  reiterate  the  promise  made  therein.' 
Now  prefix  the  date  and  your  signature.   That  will  do." 

"  Well,  it  is  done,  and  I  am  glad  of  it,"  observed  the  prince. 
"  You  do  not  know  how  I  hate  trouble  of  any  kind.  I  was 
formed  and  fashioned  to  spend  my  existence  pleasurably, 
and  not  in  the  routine  of  business  and  serious  affairs.  Come, 
put  away  that  document,  Ernestina,  and  tell  me  once  more 
that  you  are  really  and  truly  very  fond  of  me." 


ERNESTINA  AND  THE  PRINCE  143 


The  lady  locked  up  the  paper  in  the  drawer  of  a  chiffonier 
standing  in  one  of  the  window  recesses,  and  then  took  her 
seat  upon  a  sofa,  the  prince  placing  himself  by  her  side.  At 
the  same  instant  his  looks  fell  upon  the  door  communicating 
with  the  mysterious  suite  of  apartments;  and,  as  a  train  of 
recollections  associated  therewith  gushed  through  his 
memory,  he  said,  "  Ernestina,  my  darling,  have  you  ever 
been  in  those  rooms? 

"  Never,"  she  replied.  They  are  my  uncle's  private 
apartments,  and  he  does  not  allow  any  one  save  his  valet, 
Stephen  Brockman,  and  the  housekeeper  to  enter  them." 

And  have  you  never  been  inspired  with  curiosity  suffi- 
cient to  induce  you  to  explore  those  forbidden  regions?  " 
asked  the  royal  voluptuary,  now  seized  with  an  ardent 
longing  to  witness  the  effect  of  the  gallery's  contents  upon 
Ernestina,  whose  passions  he  hoped  to  see  flame  up  to  a 
maddening  pitch. 

"  To  speak  candidly,"  she  replied,  "  I  have  wished  to 
penetrate  into  the  secrets  of  those  apartments;  but  I  have 
never  found  an  opportunity.  The  door  has  always  been 
locked." 

"  Ah!  you  little  vixen,"  exclaimed  the  prince,  patting 
her  cheek;  "  you  have  tried  the  door,  then?  " 

Do  you  not  know  that  woman's  curiosity  is  as  great  as 
her  capacity  for  love?  "  said  Ernestina,  laughing.  "  But 
have  you  ever  visited  those  apartments,  —  you,  who  are  so 
intimate  with  my  uncle?  " 

I  have,  dearest  Ernestina,"  responded  the  prince, 
"  and  I  can  assure  you  that  they  contain  the  choicest 
specimens  of  statuary  and  painting.  Ah!  how  I  should 
rejoice  to  become  your  guide  there!  " 

It  is  impossible,"  said  Ernestina,  rising  from  the  sofa 
and  trying  the  door.  "  You  perceive  it  is  locked,  and  I  dare 
not  ask  Brockman  for  the  keys,  even  if  my  uncle  had  left 
them  in  his  possession,"  she  added,  returning  to  her  seat. 

Are  you  not  aware  that  there  is  a  secret  entrance  from 
the  dressing-room  of  the  marquis?  "  inquired  the  prince. 
Then,  without  waiting  for  an  answer,  he  exclaimed,  "  But 
of  course  you  are  not,  otherwise  you  would  long  ago  have 
obtained  access  to  the  apartments  by  that  means  of  com- 
munication." 

"  No  doubt,'^  exclaimed  Ernestina,  laughing,  and  dis- 


144  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


playing  the  rows  of  pearl  which  embellished  her  mouth. 

I  will  not  affect  a  virtue  which  I  do  not  possess;  and  now 
that  you  have  raised  my  curiosity,  you  shall  indeed  become 
my  guide  and  companion  in  a  visit  to  those  rooms.  But 
wait  an  instant,  while  I  assure  myself  that  the  coast  is  clear." 

Thus  speakings  the  lady  again  started  from  her  seat  by 
the  prince's  side,  and  went  to  look  forth  upon  the  landing. 
No  one  was  there,  and  she  beckoned  his  Royal  Highness  to 
follow  hastily.  He  at  once  obeyed,  and  they  passed  together 
into  her  uncle's  bedchamber.  This  they  traversed  and 
entered  the  dressing-room;  but  Ernestina  saw  no  trace  of  a 
door  in  the  wall  which  separated  that  dressing-room  from 
the  private  suite  of  apartments. 

"  You  are  more  puzzled  than  if  you  were  wildered  in  the 
maze  at  Hampton  Court,"  cried  the  prince,  laughing;  then, 
having  pressed  his  lips  upon  her  fair  shoulder  as  he  threw 
his  arm  for  a  moment  around  her  waist,  he  said,  "  Look 
here." 

Thus  speaking,  he  pressed  his  thumb  upon  a  particular 
spot  on  the  paper,  and  a  door  immediately  flew  open. 
Bounding  past  the  prince,  Ernestina  sped  into  the  room 
thus  revealed  to  her;  but  a  cry  of  mingled  amazement  and 
alarm  burst  from  her  hps  as  her  eyes  encountered  the  never- 
to-be-forgotten  face  of  Daniel  Coffin  the  Hangman. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


THE  PRISONER  IN  THE  CHAIR 

At  that  ejaculation  of  terror  the  prince  sprang  forward 
from  the  dressing-room  just  in  time  to  catch  Lady  Ernestina 
Dysart  in  his  arms  as  she  was  recoiUng  from  the  hideous 
spectacle  of  that  man  whom  she  never  saw  nor  thought  of 
without  associating  him  with  the  ghastly  horrors  of  death 
and  the  grave;  for  the  incidents  of  the  night  at  the  Black- 
heath  villa  were  impressed  on  her  brain  as  indelibly  as  if 
seared  there  with  a  red-hot  iron. 

"  Who  the  devil  is  this  fellow?  exclaimed  the  prince, 
the  moment  his  looks  lighted  upon  the  Hangman;  but  the 
next  instant  he  burst  out  into  such  an  uncontrollable  fit  of 
laughter  that  all  Ernestina's  terror  vanished,  and  she  glanced 
again  toward  the  object  of  her  aversion  in  order  to  discover 
the  cause  of  her  royal  companion's  sudden  jocularity. 

And  now  she  saw  what  she  had  not  at  first  perceived, 
namely,  the  ignominious  as  well  as  ludicrous  manner  in  which 
Daniel  Coffin  was  held  captive  in  the  chair;  and  a  smile 
wavered  upon  her  beauteous  lips,  despite  the  abhorrence 
and  loathing  which  she  entertained  for  that  man.  The 
whole  truth  flashed  to  her  comprehension  in  a  moment,  for 
she  was  not  so  innocent  nor  so  inexperienced  as  to  remain 
long  in  doubt  as  to  the  real  uses  which  that  treacherous 
chair  was  intended  to  serve;  and  it  likewise  struck  her 
that  the  Hangman,  instead  of  leaving  the  house  on  the 
preceding  evening,  had  stolen  up  into  this  suite  of  apart- 
ments and  had  fallen  into  a  trap  which  her  precious  uncle 
was  wont  to  set  for  a  fairer  and  lovelier  prey  than  that 
which  it  had  now  caught. 

On  his  side,  the  Hangman  had  instantaneously  recognized 
the  prince  regent,  whose  person  was  no  stranger  to  him; 

145 


146  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 

and,  momentarily  aghast  with  dismay,  the  wretch  sat 
glaring  wildly  on  his  Royal  Highness.  But  speedily  re- 
covering his  wonted  presence  of  mind,  especially  when  he 
saw  that  the  prince  treated  the  affair  as  such  a  capital  joke, 
he  growled  forth,  Well,  can't  you  release  a  poor  devil? 
I  have  been  fast  here  ever  since  ten  o'clock  last  night." 

Oh,  the  fellow  will  kill  me,  positively  kill  me  with 
laughing,"  cried  the  prince,  actually  writhing  with  parox- 
ysms of  mirth  as  he  leaned  against  the  wall  for  support, 
while  the  tears  streamed  down  his  cheeks  now  purple  from 
the  same  cause.  "  Oh,  this  is  too  good,  too  rich!  Ernestina, 
why  don't  you  enjoy  it  as  I  do?  " 

Enjoy  it,  by  goles!  "  growled  the  Hangman,  savagely. 
"  I  don't  think  your  Royal  Highness  would  enjoy  it  very 
much  either.  It's  no  joke  to  pass  a  night  locked  up  in  an 
infernal  chair  that  is  worse  than  the  stocks,  barring  the  pelt- 
ing of  the  rotten  eggs." 

"  Well,  I  never  laughed  so  much  in  all  my  Hfe,"  exclaimed 
the  prince,  the  humorous  fit  now  gradually  subsiding. 
Then,  as  he  closed  the  door  opening  from  the  dressing-room, 
he  said,  "  Ernestina,  do  you  know  our  captive  friend  here? 
I  can't  congratulate  him  upon  the  pleasantness  of  his 
aspect,  and  if  men's  countenances  were  to  be  taken  as  bail, 
I  am  very  sure  his  would  never  be  accepted." 

No,  I  am  quite  ignorant  who  he  is,"  said  Lady  Dysart, 
making  Coffin  a  rapid  sign  not  to  contradict  the  assertion 
thus  boldly  ventured.  But  I  dare  say  he  has  found  his 
way  into  the  house  on  some  love-adventure  with  one  of  the 
female  servants,"  she  added,  thus  furnishing  him  with  a 
ready  excuse  to  account  for  his  presence  there. 

Egad,  ma'am,  you're  quite  right,"  exclaimed  the 
Hangman,  with  a  grim  smile.  "  It  was  just  as  you  say,  and 
the  girl  deluded  me  into  this  place,  where  she  very  politely 
asked  me  to  be  seated,  and  lo  and  behold!  I  was  lumbered 
and  limboed  in  a  jiffy.  But  I'll  be  even  with  her  yet,  the 
hussy!   Only,  I  hope  you  won't  make  no  noise  about  it." 

"  Rest  assured  on  that  head,"  Ernestina  hastened  to 
reply.  "  But  on  your  part,  you  will  never  betray  what  you 
have  experienced  or  seen  within  these  walls?  " 

I  don't  want  to  be  laughed  at  for  a  fool,  ma'am," 
responded  Coffin;  and  therefore  I  shall  keep  a  still  tongue 
in  my  head.    But  pray  release  me." 


THE  PRISONER  IN  THE  CHAIR  147 


"  In  a  moment,  all  in  good  time/'  exclaimed  the  prince, 
still  with  a  smile  upon  his  countenance  as  he  surveyed  the 
man  who  cut  such  a  piteous  figure,  with  his  looks  made 
haggard  by  a  night  of  restlessness,  and  whose  aspect  was 
not  improved  by  his  matted  hair  and  unshaven  chin.  Now, 
is  it  really  possible,"  continued  his  Royal  Highness,  "  that 
any  girl  in  the  service  of  Lord  Leveson  took  a  fancy  to  so 
singular  a  gentleman  as  you  are?  " 

She  pretended  to,  at  all  events,"  replied  Cofiin;  "but 
don't  you  see,  it  was  only  to  amuse  herself  by  enticing  me 
into  this  trap." 

"  And  right  well  must  she  have  been  amused,  too,'' 
rejoined  the  prince,  still  with  a  bantering  tone.  But  do 
you  know,  my  good  fellow,  that  if  any  one  asked  me  seriously 
and  solemnly  to  guess  who  you  are,  I  could  not  possibly  fall 
back  upon  any  other  hypothesis  than  that  you  are  Jack 
Ketch." 

"  And  by  Satan!  "  exclaimed  Coffin,  with  another  grim 
smile,  your  Royal  Highness  wouldn't  be  far  short  of  the 
mark,  and  that's  plain  enough!  " 

Heavens!  don't  talk  so  horribly,"  cried  Ernestina, 
becoming  very  pale. 

"  Well,  ma'am,"  continued  Coffin,  "  the  prince  wants 
to  know  who  I  am,  and  as  I  am  very  certain  he  won't  betray 
me,  I  tell  him  candidly  and  openly  that  I  am  —  or  at  least 
was  —  Jack  Ketch,  until  that  cursed  affair  down  at  Mrs. 
Owen's  —  " 

"Ah!  is  this  possible?  "  ejaculated  the  prince,  who  at 
first  thought  the  fellow  was  joking  when  he  acknowledged 
himself  to  be  the  public  executioner;  and  the  countenance 
of  his  Royal  Highness  now  became  suddenly  stern  and 
severe. 

"  Let  us  liberate  him  and  send  him  about  his  business," 
said  Ernestina,  catching  the  prince  by  the  arm  and  gazing 
on  him  with  a  look  of  entreaty. 

"  Yes,  and  the  sooner  he  gets  out  of  my  sight,  the  better," 
exclaimed  George.  "  But,  no!  "  he  suddenly  ejaculated, 
as  a  thought  flashed  to  his  mind.  "  This  fellow  may  be  of 
service  to  us,"  he  added,  in  a  musing  tone.  Then,  drawing 
Ernestina  to  the  farther  end  of  the  room,  he  said,  in  a  low 
whisper,  "  With  this  scoundrel's  cooperation,  our  plans 
relative  to  Dysart  would  be  made  secure  and  safe  enough." 


148  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


I  can  at  once  fathom  your  meaning,"  responded  the 
lady,  likewise  lowering  her  voice  to  a  scarcely  audible 
whisper;     but  would  you  trust  him?  " 

And  why  not?  "  asked  the  prince.  "  He  would  not 
dare  betray  us,  because  he  must  know  full  well  that  not  a 
human  being  would  believe  him,  and  that  he  would  be 
treated  as  a  bedlamite.  Besides,  gold  purchases  the  secrecy 
even  of  such  ruffians  as  this." 

"  True!  But  he  is  no  longer  the  agent  of  the  law;  he  has 
ceased  to  occupy  his  loathsome  office,"  observed  the  lady. 

For,  if  I  be  not  mistaken,  he  is  the  wretch  who  shot 
Mrs.  Owen's  footman,  and  therefore  he  himself  has  become 
amenable  to  the  law." 

"  Ah,  I  did  not  think  of  that  at  the  moment,"  said  the 
prince.  "  But,  at  all  events,  let  us  question  the  villain 
and  ascertain  what  his  position  and  prospects  really  are. 
One  never  knows  what  loopholes  such  scoundrels  have  to 
creep  out  of.  In  any  case,  there  is  no  harm  in  questioning 
him;  it  will  only  be  at  the  expense  of  remaining  a  few 
minutes  longer  in  his  precious  company." 

With  this  resolve  the  prince  turned  again  toward  the 
Hangman,  who  had  waited  in  some  degree  of  suspense  the 
result  of  the  whispered  colloquy  between  his  Royal  Highness 
and  Ernestina.  As  for  the  lady  herself,  it  was  with 
evident  reluctance  that  she  again  accosted  the  Hangman; 
nor  did  she  much  admire  the  prospect  of  falhng  even 
more  deeply  into  that  ruffian's  power  than  she  already 
was. 

Now  tell  me,"  said  the  prince,  leaning  against  the 
secret  door  of  the  dressing-room,  and  fixing  his  eyes  search- 
ingly  upon  the  Hangman,  what  prospect  you  have  of  ever 
getting  out  of  the  scrape  into  which  your  crimes  have 
plunged  you?  " 

"  First  tell  me,"  exclaimed  Coffin,  "  what  motive  you 
have  in  asking?  " 

"  No  unfriendly  one,"  replied  the  prince.  "  You  are 
well  aware  that  it  does  not  suit  my  purpose  to  hand  you 
over  to  the  grasp  of  justice:  that  calculation  you  have 
already  revolved  in  your  mind,  and  therefore  you  need  no 
assurance  from  my  lips  upon  the  point.  But  I  have  a 
particular  reason  for  wishing  to  know  whether  you  entertain 
any  hopes  of  being  shortly  restored  to  the  very  pleasant  and 


THE  PRISONER  IN  THE  CHAIR  149 


agreeable  office  which  you  are  compelled,  it  appears,  tem- 
porarily to  vacate." 

Does  your  Royal  Highness  mean  the  post  of  Jack 
Ketch?  "  inquired  Coffin,  more  and  more  amazed  at  the 
turn  the  conversation  was  taking. 

''To  be  sure  I  do!"  exclaimed  the  prince.  ''Come, 
speak  out,  man;  you  know  I  can't  —  or,  rather,  won't  — 
do  you  any  harm,  whereas,"  he  added,  more  deliberately, 
"  I  may  do  you  some  good." 

"  Ah!  that's  different,"  said  Coffin,  his  looks  now  bright- 
ening up,  "  Well,  my  lord,  —  or  Royal  Highness,  —  I'll 
explain  to  you  exactly  the  predicament  I  stand  in.  You  see 
I'm  now  playing  at  hide-and-seek,  —  afraid  to  go  near  my 
own  house  —  " 

"  And  therefore  you  take  up  your  quarters  in  other 
people's,"  added  the  prince,  drily.  "  But  go  on.  I  suppose 
you  are  afraid  of  being  arrested?  " 

"  Just  so,"  observed  the  Hangman;  "  and  there  is  but 
two  chances  of  my  ever  being  comfortable  again.  One  is 
the  death  of  my  sworn  enemy,  Larry  Sampson  —  " 

"  That  is  the  famous  Bow  Street  officer,  eh?  "  said  the 
prince. 

"  Lor',  how  your  Royal  Highness  does  know  everything!  " 
exclaimed  Coffin.  "  One  would  really  think  you'd  been  a 
gonnoff  or  cracksman  yourself  in  your  day,  and  perhaps 
you  would,  too,  if  you  hadn't  been  born  a  prince.'* 

"  Well,  go  on,"  said  his  Royal  Highness,  who  could  not 
help  smiling  at  the  conceit.  "  You  have  told  me  one  of 
your  chances  of  getting  what  you  call  comfortable  again; 
now  tell  me  the  other." 

"  It  is  just  this,"  rejoined  Daniel  Coffin,  "  that  if  so  be 
there's  a  man  to  hang  some  fine  Monday  morning,  and  no 
one  to  hang  him,  the  sheriff  will  make  proclamation  of  free 
pardon  to  any  enterprising  individual,  no  matter  what  his 
crimes  may  have  been,  who  shall  step  for'ard  and  offer 
himself  for  the  dooty." 

"  Ah!  "  ejaculated  the  prince,  with  a  rapid  glance  of 
intelligence  at  Ernestina.  "  Then  you  really  do  expect 
that,  sooner  or  later,  you  may  resume  your  favourite 
post?  " 

"  If  it  wasn't  an  unpleasant  subject,  prince,"  said  the 
hangman,  looking  toward  the  lady  in  a  meaning  manner, 


150  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  I  might  perhaps  let  you  into  the  real  secret  of  my  hopes 
on  the  point  we  are  discussing." 

Do  not  mind  me,"  observed  Ernestina.  "  Speak 
candidly  and  openly  to  his  Royal  Highness,  whatever  you 
may  have  to  say;  "  and  she  walked  toward  the  end  of  the 
room,  still,  however,  remaining  within  ear-shot,  as  the 
chamber  has  already  been  described  as  of  narrow  dimensions. 

Well,  then,  since  I  am  to  speak  out,  I  will,"  continued 
Daniel  Coffin,  fully  convinced,  in  his  own  mind,  that  all 
this  questioning  did  not  arise  from  mere  curiosity  alone 
on  the  part  of  the  prince,  but  was  connected  with  the 
topic  of  his  recently  whispered  colloquy  with  Ernestina, 
whatever  that  topic  might  have  been.  The  fact  is,  your 
Royal  Highness,  Mr.  Dysart  will  have  to  figure  at  Tuckup 
Fair  next  Monday  week,  if  so  be  your  Royal  Highness 
doesn't  mean  to  let  him  off.  And,  somehow  or  another,  a 
little  bird  whispers  in  my  ears  that  you  won't  let  him  off  —  " 

Ah!  "  cried  the  prince,  and  the  ejaculation  was  echoed, 
but  in  a  lower  tone,  by  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart.  "  What 
makes  you  assume  that,  fellow?  "  he  demanded,  sternly. 

Oh,  simply  because  I  see  your  Royal  Highness  and  her 
ladyship  on  such  very  comfortable  terms  together,"  replied 
the  Hangman.  "  Coming  into  this  pleasant  range  of  apart- 
ments, for  instance,  very  likely  to  take  a  peep  into  yonder 
gallery,  and,  at  all  events,  whispering  together,  exchanging 
sly  glances,  and  seeming  on  such  capita]  terms,  that  a  hus- 
band is  better  out  of  the  way  in  such  a  case." 

As  Coffin  thus  spoke,  Ernestina  turned  aside  her  coun- 
tenance, that  was  crimsoning  with  mingled  indignation  and 
shame;  but  it  did  not  strike  her  that  it  was  her  own  fault 
if  the  ruffian  thus  were  enabled  to  allude  with  coarse  ffip- 
pancy  to  her  amour  with  the  prince.  As  for  her  royal 
paramour  himself,  he  was,  for  a  moment,  inclined  to  give 
way  to  his  anger  at  the  fellow's  remarks;  but,  perceiving 
that  any  display  of  wrath  would  be  alike  useless  and  ridicu- 
lous, he  bit  his  lip  and  held  his  peace. 

"  So,  you  observe,"  continued  the  Hangman,  "  that  I'm 
rather  a  far-seeing  covey,  after  my  own  fashion;  and  to 
return  to  what  I  was  saying,  I'm  now  in  hope  that,  if  so  be 
Mr.  Dysart  should  be  tucked  up  next  Monday  week,  I  may 
have  the  opportunity  of  getting  a  free  pardon,  and  going 
home  all  comfortable  again  to  my  crib  in  Fleet  Lane,  where 


THE  PRISONER  IN  THE  CHAIR  151 


I  shall  be  happy  to  shave  your  Royal  Highness  any  day 
for  nothing." 

"  And  such  is  your  hope,"  said  the  prince,  in  a  musing 
tone;  "  and  you  expect  it  will  be  gratified  on  Monday 
week.  Now,  can  you  keep  a  secret?  And  do  you  want  to 
earn  a  couple  of  hundred  guineas?  " 

"  Yes,  to  both  questions,"  replied  the  Hangman,  joyfully. 

"  Ernestina,"  said  the  prince,  "  retire  into  that  room, 
and  close  the  door.  I  would  rather  speak  to  this  man  alone. 
It  must  only  be  painful  to  your  feelings,"  he  added,  in  a 
whisper,  as  he  conducted  the  lady  into  the  luxuriously 
furnished  apartment,  which  has  already  been  described  as 
forming  the  first  of  the  suite. 

Ernestina  accordingly  remained  in  this  room  while  the 
prince  concluded  his  discourse  with  Daniel  CoflSn.  What 
further  passed  between  them  we  need  not  now  relate; 
suffice  it  to  say  that,  having  been  closeted  alone  with  the 
Hangman  for  upwards  of  ten  minutes,  his  Royal  Highness 
returned  to  the  lady  in  the  apartment  to  which  he  had 
conducted  her. 

Well,  my  angel,  it  is  all  right,"  he  said,  in  a  low, 
mysterious  tone,  as  he  closed  the  door  behind  him.  "  The 
fellow  has  entered  into  my  views,  and  I  am  glad  that  the 
thought  struck  me." 

"  But  where  is  he?  Have  you  released  him  from  the 
chair?  Is  he  gone?  "  demanded  Ernestina,  trembling  with. 
the  excitement  into  which  the  prolonged  train  of  incidents 
had  thrown  her. 

"  The  rascal  could  not  very  well  leave  the  house  in  broad 
dayhght,"  said  the  prince,  "to  be  stopped  by  your  servants 
as  a  prowling  robber,  or  to  be  snapped  up  by  some  constable 
or  informer  in  the  streets.  No,  he  must  remain  here  until 
dusk.  I  have  liberated  him  from  the  chair,  and  he  is  busy 
devouring  a  quantity  of  biscuits,  with  which  his  pocket  is 
crammed.    But  you  look  pale,  ill  —  " 

"  I  shall  be  better  presently,  my  dearest  George,"  an- 
swered Ernestina,  with  a  fond  look.  But  let  us  leave  these 
apartments,  and  return  to  the  drawing-room.  We  have 
already  been  too  long  away,  and  if  any  of  the  servants 
should  have  entered  during  our  absence,  what  must  they 
have  thought?  " 

"  That  I  know  how  to  appreciate  the  beauties  of  an 


152  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


angel/*  replied  the  prince,  caressing  her.  "  We  will  return 
to  the  drawing-room,  since  you  desire  it;  but  we  must 
retrace  our  way  through  your  uncle's  chambers." 

By  what  means  did  that  dreadful  man  obtain  access 
to  these  rooms,  I  wonder?  "  said  Ernestina,  the  thought 
now  striking  her  for  the  first  time. 

By  aid  of  a  skeleton  key,  he  tells  me,"  answered  the 
prince;  and  I  have  doubt  his  intention  was  to  rob  the 
house.  But  we  will  not  trouble  ourselves  any  more  about 
him;  he  will  be  useful  to  us,  and  that  is  sufficient.  Come, 
let  us  retrace  our  way  to  the  drawing-room." 

The  prince  accordingly  led  Ernestina  back  into  the 
adjoining  apartment,  where  the  Hangman  was  now  walking 
to  and  fro  to  stretch  his  limbs,  which  were  horribly  cramped 
by  his  long  prisonage  in  the  treacherous  chair.  Opening 
the  secret  door,  by  pressing  his  hand  on  one  of  the  roses 
that  formed  the  pattern  of  the  paper,  his  Royal  Highness 
and  Ernestina  once  more  gained  the  dressing-room.  The 
secret  door  was  carefully  closed  again;  and  from  the  dressing- 
room  they  passed  into  the  bedchamber. 

But,  to  tell  the  truth,  they  paused  there  awhile;  and 
nearly  another  half-hour  elapsed  ere  they  returned  into  the 
Crimson  Drawing-room.  Then  the  lady's  cheeks  were 
flushed,  and  her  eyes  swam  in  a  softly  sensuous  languor, 
while  the  countenance  of  the  prince  was  radiant  with  satis- 
faction and  triumph.  Alas!  Venetia  was  still  forgotten  by 
the  royal  voluptuary. 

Farewell  for  the  present,  my  charmer,"  he  said,  straining 
Ernestina  to  his  breast.  "  We  shall  soon  meet  again,  —  the 
sooner  the  better." 

That  depends  entirely  on  yourself,  my  dear  George," 
whispered  the  lady,  in  her  soft  musical  tones,  and  with  a 
look  that  was  in  itself  a  whole  world  of  blandishments. 

The  prince  now  took  his  departure,  and  Ernestina,  having 
ordered  the  carriage,  ascended  to  her  own  chamber  to  dress 
for  going  out. 


CHAPTER  XIV 


NEWGATE 

It  was  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  as  a  beautiful 
girl,  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  neatly  though  plainly 
dressed,  reached  the  visitors'  gate  at  Newgate.  Her  coun- 
tenance was  pale  as  marble,  her  eyes  were  somewhat  red 
with  weeping,  and  the  nervous  quivering  of  her  lips  showed 
how  strong  and  painful  were  the  efforts  which  she  made 
to  crush  and  stifle  the  grief  that  was  swelling  so  agonizingly 
in  her  bosom.  Her  slight  form  was  modelled  to  the  most 
graceful  symmetry;  innocence  shed  its  soft  halo  even  upon 
her  profoundly  mournful  looks;  her  retiring,  timid,  and 
bashful  manner  unmistakably  denoted  the  purity  of  her 
mind. 

Ascending  the  steps  leading  to  the  gate,  or  half-door, 
surmounted  with  its  bristling  fringe  of  iron  spikes,  her  looks 
plunged  affrightedly  and  recoilingly  into  the  dark  gloomy 
vestibule  within;  and  the  next  moment  a  turnkey  Looked 
over  the  well-guarded  barrier. 

"  What  is  it,  young  'oman?  "  he  said,  in  a  short,  surly 
tone,  for  he  was  discussing  his  dinner  and  a  pot  of  porter 
at  the  moment  of  her  arrival. 

"I  believe  —  I  am  afraid,"  she  answered,  tremulously 
and  timidly,  "  that  a  young  gentleman  named  Theodore 
Varian  has  been  brought  hither  this  forenoon." 

"  We've  no  young  genelmen  here,  miss,"  said  the  turnkey, 
gruffly.  A  young  man  has  been  brought  in  this  mornin', 
committed  by  the  lord  mayor  for  trial." 

"  May  I  see  him?  "  asked  the  girl,  the  syllables  which 
formed  the  request  seeming  as  if  they  issued  from  a  breaking 
heart.   "  He  is  my  brother,"  and  she  burst  into  tears. 

Well,  I'm  sorry  to  be  obleeged  to  refuse  you,  my  dear," 
153 


154  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


said  the  turnkey,  somewhat  softened;  but  it's  after  the 
hours  for  wisitors,  and  it's  agin  the  rules  to  let  anybody- 
enter  now.  I'm  wery  sorry,  I  say,  but  you  must  come 
to-morrow  mornin'  at  eleven  o'clock." 

"  Oh,  can  you  not  let  me  see  my  poor  brother,  if  only 
for  a  moment?  "  asked  Ariadne  Varian,  in  a  voice  that  was 
convulsed  with  bitter,  bitter  anguish. 

It  can't  be  done,  miss,"  said  the  turnkey;  "  but  you  can 
ax  the  guv'ner.  Go  on  a  little  farther,  and  ascend  them 
steps  which  leads  to  the  door  of  his  house." 

Then,  having  waved  a  huge  key  in  the  direction  to  which 
he  had  alluded,  the  man  disappeared  from  the  gate,  and 
poor  Ariadne,  hastily  wiping  her  eyes,  passed  along  the 
front  of  the  frowning  prison  until  she  reached  the  door  of 
the  governor's  dwelling.  The  knock  which  she  gave  was 
low  and  timid,  for  there  was  in  her  soul  a  sense  of  such  deep, 
deep  humiliation  that  it  seemed  to  her  as  if  her  prayer 
would  only  be  granted  by  a  display  of  object  servility  on 
her  part,  and  that  even  too  loud  a  knock  would  ensure  a 
refusal.  Alas!  this  poor  young  girl  was  already  doomed,  at 
so  tender  an  age,  to  experience  the  degradation  which  even 
innocence  feels  when  visiting  the  abode  of  the  criminal. 

A  woman  servant  answered  the  door,  and  the  instant 
Ariadne  began  to  make  known  her  business,  the  governor 
himself  issued  forth  from  an  office  close  by. 

"  I'm  sorry  I  can't  help  you,  young  woman,"  he  said; 
"  but  it  is  altogether  against  the  rules  to  admit  a  visitor 
after  the  proper  hours.  It  is  more  than  I  dare  do.  You 
must  come  to-morrow  morning.   But  what  case  is  it?  " 

"  I  am  the  sister  of  Theodore  Varian,  sir,"  replied  Ariadne, 
again  bursting  into  tears,  and  leaning  against  the  entrance 
for  support. 

"Ah!  I  recollect,"  cried  the  governor.  "  Committed 
just  now  from  the  Mansion  House,  eh?  Embezzlement 
and  fraud  —  my  friend  Emmerson  the  prosecutor.  Ah! 
young  woman,  it  is  a  bad  case;  your  brother  should  have 
known  better.  There,  now,  don't  cry  like  this;  people 
will  think  I  am  ill-using  you,  perhaps.  Come  to-morrow  at 
eleven." 

With  these  words  the  governor  closed  the  door  of  his 
house,  and  Ariadne  turned  slowly  away  from  the  prison, 
weeping  as  if  her  heart  would  break. 


NEWGATE 


155 


A  few  minutes  afterward  a  carriage  dashed  up  to  the 
governor's  dwelling,  and  a  livery  servant,  leaping  down 
from  behind,  gave  a  long,  thundering  knock  which  raised 
every  echo  in  the  Old  Bailey.  The  front  door  was  thrown 
open,  the  governor  himself  rushed  down  the  steps,  and, 
assisting  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart  to  alight,  he  conducted  her 
with  the  profoundest  manifestations  of  respect  into  his 
own  drawing-room. 

I  wish  to  see  my  unhappy  husband,"  said  the  lady, 
assuming  an  air  of  intense  affliction. 

Well,  your  ladyship,  it  is  a  leetle  after  the  usual  hours," 
observed  the  governor,  with  his  blandest  tone  and  utmost 
suavity  of  manner;  but  of  course  I  could  not  for  a  moment 
think  of  enforcing  the  gaol  regulations  in  respect  to  your 
ladyship.  Will  your  ladyship  see  Mr.  Dysart  in  this  apart- 
ment? " 

"  No,  sir,  I  thank  you,"  responded  Ernestina.  "  It  is 
in  the  gloom  and  dreariness  of  his  own  cell  that  he  requires 
consolation,  and  thither  I  shall  trouble  you  to  conduct  me. 
But  I  may  as  well  inform  you,"  she  added,  with  a  mysterious 
look,  that  I  cherish  every  hope  of  obtaining  a  reprieve 
and  a  pardon  for  my  unfortunate  husband." 

"  I  am  delighted  to  hear  it,  my  lady,"  exclaimed  the 
governor.  It  is  indeed  an  affair  demanding  the  exercise 
of  the  royal  prerogative  of  mercy,"  added  this  gentleman 
who  a  few  minutes  before  had  pronounced  Varian's  case 
to  be  so  very  black.  Is  there  anything  I  can  do  to  cheer 
Mr.  Dysart 's  spirits,  —  anything  your  ladyship  can  sug- 
gest? " 

I  thank  you  most  sincerely,"  answered  Ernestina,  with 
a  smile  so  gracious  and  condescending  that  it  quite  ravished 
the  governor,  who  was  one  of  those  persons  that  consider 
the  favour  of  aristocracy  to  be  an  inestimable  benefit  and 
would  sooner  lose  their  ears  or  their  eyes  than  incur  the 
displeasure  of  this  said  aristocracy.  "  Yes,  I  think  you 
can  do  something  to  cheer  poor  Dysart,"  continued  the  lady; 
^'  and  I  shall  not  forget  to  mention  your  kindness  in  terms 
of  gratitude  to  my  uncle  the  Marquis  of  Leveson." 

"  What  can  I  do  to  oblige  your  ladyship?  "  asked  the 
governor,  now  lifted  up  to  the  seventh  heaven  of  delight. 

"  You  may  cheer  my  poor  husband's  spirits  from  time 
to  time  by  assuring  him  that  he  is  certain  of  a  reprieve 


156  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


and  eventual  pardon,"  continued  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart. 
"  He  will  be  more  tranquillized  and  more  confident  by 
receiving  such  assurances  from  your  lips,  because  he  may 
fancy  that  when  coming  from  me  they  are  rather  the  expres- 
sion of  what  I  hope  and  desire  than  what  I  am  certain  of. 
Do  you  comprehend  me?  " 

"  Perfectly,  my  lady,"  replied  the  obsequious  governor. 
"  I  will  seek  every  opportunity  to  visit  Mr.  Dysart  for  a 
few  moments,  and  will  hint  my  conviction  that  he  has 
nothing  to  apprehend,  but  everything  to  hope." 

"  You  may  do  this  with  the  greatest  confidence,  I  caa 
assure  you,"  said  Ernestina,  inwardly  rejoicing  at  the  ease 
with  which  the  man's  sycophancy  made  him  her  tool  in  the 
matter.  Then,  apparently  in  quite  a  casual  way,  she 
observed,  "  I  can  only  say,  my  dear  sir,  that  Lord  Leveson 
will  always  be  most  happy  to  see  you  in  Albemarle  Street, 
and  that  henceforth  no  guest  will  be  received  at  his  table 
with  a  more  cordial  welcome  than  yourself." 

The  governor  was  now  so  enchanted  that  he  knew  not 
whether  he  was  standing  upon  his  head  or  his  heels;  and 
he  hterally  confounded  himself  in  bowings  and  scrapings. 
Ernestina  rose  from  the  chair  which  she  had  taken  on 
entering  the  room,  and  the  obsequious  governor  forthwith 
conducted  her  to  the  cell  in  which  her  husband  was  con- 
fined. He  then  withdrew,  and  Ernestina  remained  alone 
in  the  company  of  Paul  Dysart. 

"  What  intelligence  have  you  for  me?  "  he  demanded, 
with  breathless  impatience. 

"  Good,"  she  replied;  then  taking  from  about  her  person 
a  document  which  her  husband  instantaneously  recognized, 
the  pointed  to  some  writing  on  the  margin,  saying,  "  Read 
this." 

Dysart's  looks  at  once  settled  with  all  the  avidity  of 
suspense  upon  the  writing  thus  indicated;  and  when  he 
beheld  that  solemn  recognition  of  the  pledge  contained  in 
the  document,  with  the  prince's  signature  affixed  thereto, 
he  exclaimed,  in  a  joyous  tone,  "  Thank  Heaven!  I  am 
saved!  " 

"  Yes,  you  have  now  nothing  to  dread,  Paul,"  said 
Ernestina,  appearing  to  participate  in  his  enthusiastic 
delight.  "  The  prince  was  with  me  for  an  hour  this  morning, 
and  he  did  not  hesitate  to  pen  of  his  own  accord  that  anno- 


NEWGATE 


157 


tation  on  the  margin  of  the  paper.  But  he  nevertheless 
feels  that  the  matter  is  a  delicate  one,  and  must  be  managed 
with  tact  and  judgment,  so  as  to  prevent  the  public  mind 
from  being  outraged  by  a  leniency  which  is  not  warranted 
by  the  circumstances.  These  are  the  prince's  own  words; 
and  he  has  accordingly  hit  upon  a  plan  —  " 

And  that  plan?  "  exclaimed  Dysart,  impatiently. 
"  I  will  explain  it  to  you,"  said  Ernestina,  with  a  winning 
air  of  apparent  sincerity,  all  the  more  deeply  simulated  in 
proportion  to  the  ticklish  nature  of  the  ground  upon  which 
she  was  touching.  The  prince's  idea  is  that  things  must 
be  left  to  take  their  usual  course  until  the  very  last  mo- 
ment —  " 

''Ah!  I  understand  you,"  interrupted  Dysart,  becoming 
ghastly  pale.  ''  He  means  to  treat  me  Uke  one  of  those 
common  malefactors  who  are  made  to  ascend  even  the  very 
platform  of  the  scaffold  before  the  reprieve  is  produced." 

"  Do  not  be  impatient,  and  do  not  give  way  to  passionate 
feehngs,"  said  Ernestina,  as  she  again  secured  the  document 
about  her  person.  ''  The  prince  has  desired  me  to  submit 
two  alternatives  to  your  consideration.  The  first  is  that 
you  receive  a  respite  at  once,  and  this  to  be  followed  by  a 
commutation  of  the  sentence  to  three  years'  imprisonment 
in  Newgate;  the  other  is  that  you  receive  the  respite  on 
the  scaffold,  and  this  to  be  followed  by  a  free  pardon  within 
a  day  or  two.  In  either  case  appearances  will  be  saved, 
and  the  public  will  have  no  room  to  suspect  that  any  private 
influences  or  intrigues  of  an  extraordinary  nature  have 
been  brought  to  bear  upon  the  mind  of  the  prince  regent." 

"  Yes,  I  see  the  difl&culty  in  which  he  is  placed,"  said 
Dysart,  "  and  I  was  not  altogether  unprepared  for  some- 
thing of  this  sort.  Well,  the  alternatives  do  not  require 
a  moment's  reflection:  I  accept  the  latter,  as  being  the 
shortest  though  the  most  painful  ordeal.  As  for  remaining 
cooped  up  in  this  infernal  prison  for  three  years,  I'd  sooner 
be  hanged  straight  off  at  once.  And,  after  all,  there's  no 
great  harm  in  mounting  the  steps  of  a  gibbet,  when  one 
knows  that  the  sheriff  has  got  the  reprieve  in  his  pocket." 

"  This  is  the  course  I  should  have  recommended,  had 
you  asked  my  advice,"  said  Ernestina;  because  in  ten 
days  all  will  be  over,  and  you  will  be  free  again." 

"  And  then  we  will  return  to  the  Continent,  or  go  any- 


158  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


where  you  like,"  observed  Dysart,  anxious  to  show  a  con- 
ciUatory  spirit  toward  his  wife,  for  he  more  than  suspected 
that  the  prince  had  exacted  from  her  certain  favours  as 
the  reward  of  the  acknowledgment  written  on  the  margin 
of  the  document.      What  do  you  say,  Ernestina?  " 

Oh,  by  all  means  let  us  repair  to  France,  at  least  for  a 
time,"  she  exclaimed,  appearing  to  catch  with  avidity  at 
the  proposal.  You  have  plenty  of  ready  money  in  your 
possession,  and  I  shall  manage  to  get  a  thousand  or  two 
from  my  uncle." 

"  So  much  the  better.  By  the  bye,  what  did  the  prince 
say  when  he  found  that  the  heroine  of  his  midnight  adventure 
and  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart  were  one  and  the  same  person?  " 

If  I  told  you  that  he  was  very  sorry  to  meet  me  again, 
I  should  deceive  you,  Paul,"  she  responded,  with  an  arch 
look.  "  Personally,  I  hate  and  detest  him,  but  I  was  pre- 
pared to  make  any  sacrifice  for  your  sake.  However,  do 
not  let  us  talk  upon  that  subject.  You  must  now  keep  up 
your  spirits  as  well  as  you  can." 

"  Oh,  I  shall  be  happy  enough,  my  dear,"  exclaimed  her 
husband.   "  Are  you  to  see  the  prince  again  shortly?  " 

"  Yes,  in  a  day  or  two,"  she  replied.  "  He  made  me 
promise  —  " 

"  That's  right!  "  observed  Dysart.  "  Stick  close  to  him. 
Not  that  he  can  possibly  fly  from  his  word  —  " 

"  He  would  not  have  ratified  the  document  if  such  had 
been  his  intention,"  Ernestina  hastened  to  answer.  "  But 
I  can  tell  you  something  more,  Paul  —  " 

"  What  is  it?  "  he  demanded,  eagerly. 

"  The  prince  has  promised  that  a  private  intimation  shall 
be  sent  to  the  governor  to  the  effect  that  the  extreme  sen- 
tence of  the  law  is  not  to  be  carried  out  in  your  case;  and 
his  object  in  doing  this  is  that  the  governor  himself  may 
give  you  a  secret  assurance  of  your  eventual  safety." 

"  Ah!  now  the  last  remaining  scintillation  of  uneasiness 
has  become  extinguished  in  my  mind,"  exclaimed  Dysart, 
rubbing  his  hands  joyously.  "  Upon  my  word,  my  dear 
Ernestina,  you  have  managed  all  this  admirably,  and  my 
future  conduct  shall  show  my  gratitude  toward  you." 

The  lady  embraced  her  husband,  and  then  took  her 
departure.  Returning  to  the  governor's  room,  she  again 
thanked  this  functionary  for  his  courtesy  and  kindness. 


NEWGATE 


159 


and  entering  the  carriage,  drove  home  to  Albemarle  Street, 
rejoicing  at  the  success  of  her  interview  with  Dysart  and  the 
security  of  mind  into  which  she  had  so  completely  but  so 
artfully  lulled  him. 

In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  the  governor  visited  the 
prisoner's  cell;  and  having  inquired  with  all  possible  respect 
and  courtesy  after  his  health,  he  said,  "  I  think,  Mr.  Dysart, 
that  I  shall  not  exceed  the  bounds  of  duty  by  dropping  a 
hint  that  may  serve  to  tranquillize  your  mind." 

"  You  are  very  good,  my  dear  sir,"  exclaimed  the  prisoner. 
"  And  this  hint  —  " 

"Is  to  the  effect  that  you  need  not  apprehend  a  very 
severe  carrying  out  of  the  law,"  responded  the  governor, 
with  a  knowing  look.  "  The  fact  is,  sir,  I  am  a  little  in  the 
confidence  of  certain  persons  high  in  authority  —  " 

"Ah!  I  understand,"  said  Dysart,  seeing  in  this  mys- 
terious hint  on  the  governor's  part  the  reahzation  of  the 
announcement  made  to  him  by  his  wife.  "  It  has  been 
whispered  to  you  that  a  reprieve  and  pardon  may  be  con- 
fidently relied  upon." 

"  Hush!  "  observed  the  governor,  placing  his  finger  to 
his  lip  in  a  meaning  manner. 

"  Say  no  more,"  exclaimed  Dysart,  joyfully.  "  I  under- 
stand you,  sir." 

"  But  not  a  word  to  the  turnkeys,  not  a  word  even  to 
your  friends,"  said  the  governor;  "  for  this  is  of  the  nature 
of  a  state  secret,  Mr.  Dysart,  and  if  I  have  ventured  to  drop  a 
hint,  it  is  because  I  do  not  like  to  see  you  linger  in  suspense." 

Thus  speaking,  the  governor  withdrew,  and  Mr.  Paul 
Dysart  sat  down  to  his  dinner  as  pleasantly  and  as  com- 
fortably as  if  his  pardon  had  already  been  proclaimed  to 
the  world. 

Meantime  Lady  Ernestina  had  returned  home  to  Albe- 
marle Street,  and  she  also  enjoyed  her  dinner  that  day 
with  as  much  zest  as  her  husband  experienced  in  Newgate. 
At  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  Mr.  Lawrence  Sampson 
was  announced,  and  the  lady  received  him  with  her  wonted 
affability. 

"  Sit  down,  Mr.  Sampson,"  she  said,  with  a  gracious  stoop 
from  the  pedestal  of  her  aristocratic  hauteur,  "  and  take  a 
glass  of  wine.  I  have  seen  my  poor  husband  to-day,  and 
broke  to  his  ears  the  matter  which  you  mentioned  to  me 


160  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


last  evening.  I  assured  him  that  if  he  had  really  indulged 
in  any  love-affair  or  amorous  intrigue  unknown  to  me,  I 
would  freely  and  cordially  forgive  him ;  and  I  besought  him 
to  tell  me  the  truth  for  the  sake  of  Mr.  Malvern,  who  was 
inconsolable  on  account  of  his  father's  still  unexplained 
and  unaccountable  disappearance.  But  Mr.  Dysart  assured 
me  that  he  had  no  reason  to  suspect  any  female  of  treachery 
toward  him.  I  then  showed  him  the  anonymous  letter 
which  had  given  the  information  leading  to  his  arrest,  but 
he  did  not  recognize  the  handwriting.  His  manner  corrob- 
orated his  words.  I  have  therefore  done  all  I  could  for 
you  in  the  affair,  Mr.  Sampson,  and  in  one  sense  I  am  sorry 
that  the  result  is  not  more  favourable  to  Mr.  Malvern's 
hopes  of  discovering  a  clue  to  his  father's  fate;  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  I  rejoice  that  my  husband  has  proved  guilt- 
less of  any  unworthy  treatment  calculated  to  evoke  a  female's 
vengeance." 

I  thank  your  ladyship  for  the  trouble  you  have  taken 
in  the  matter,"  said  the  officer.  Would  you  have  the 
kindness  to  give  me  back  the  anonymous  letter?  It  may 
serve  on  some  future  occasion  —  " 

I  have  locked  it  up  in  my  writing-desk,  Mr.  Sampson," 
observed  the  lady,  with  the  most  perfect  self-possession, 
although,  as  the  reader  will  recollect,  she  had  consigned  the 
document  to  the  flames;  but  the  desk  is  up-stairs  in  the 
drawing-room,  and  I  will  fetch  you  the  note,"  she  added; 
rising  from  her  seat. 

"  I  could  not  think  of  giving  your  ladyship  so  much 
trouble,"  exclaimed  Sampson.  "  Perhaps  you  will  have  the 
goodness  to  remit  the  letter  to  me  by  post  at  your  ladyship's 
convenience?  " 

Most  assuredly,  Mr.  Sampson,"  said  Ernestina.  Then, 
so  soon  as  Larry  had  taken  his  leave,  she  murmured  to  her- 
self, ''Ah!  even  the  cunning  Bow  Street  officer  is  made 
a  dupe  by  me!  " 

Lounging  in  an  armchair  drawn  near  the  fire  in  the 
dining-room,  Ernestina  sat  meditating  upon  her  various 
schemes  and  plots  until  past  eleven  o'clock;  then,  so  soon 
as  the  domestics  had  retired  for  the  night,  she  proceeded 
to  assist  Mr.  Daniel  Coffin  in  taking  his  departure  from  the 
mansion.  Entering  her  uncle's  dressing-room,  she  opened 
the  door  by  means  of  the  secret  spring,  and  the  Hangman 


NEWGATE 


161 


instantaneously  came  forth  from  the  apartment  which 
was  furnished  with  the  luxurious  sofas,  he  having  experi- 
enced no  inclination  to  entrust  himself  again  to  either  of 
the  armchairs  in  the  central  room  of  the  suite. 

Guided  by  Ernestina,  Coffin  descended  the  stairs  on  tip- 
toe, and  when  they  reached  the  hall,  he  said,  in  a  low  tone 
and  with  a  cunning  leer,  "  Ah!  my  lady,  your  friend  the 
prince  is  a  precious  rum  customer.  He's  down  to  a  dodge  or 
two,  he  is!  " 

"  But  he  pays  well  those  who  serve  him,"  replied  Ernes- 
tina, with  a  look  of  deep  meaning,  "  and  he  is  remorseless 
in  his  vengeance  against  those  who  deceive  him." 

I  shall  be  one  of  them  that  he  pays  well,  ma'am," 
answered  CoflSn. 

He  then  stole  out  of  the  house,  and  Ernestina,  infinitely 
relieved  by  the  departure  of  a  man  whose  looks  always 
produced  upon  her  the  impression  of  a  hideous  reptile's 
gaze,  tripped  up-stairs  to  her  own  chamber. 

But  as  she  passed  the  door  of  her  uncle's  room,  she  was 
seized  with  a  sudden  inclination  to  return  into  the  mysterious 
suit  of  apartments  and  explore  them  fully.  The  deep  silence 
that  prevailed  through  the  mansion  struck,  however, 
ominously  to  her  soul;  and,  continuing  her  way  to  her  own 
room,  she  decided  upon  postponing  the  gratification  of  her 
curiosity  until  another  occasion. 


CHAPTER  XV 


A  CHAPTER  TO  WHICH  WE  CAN  GIVE  NO  TITLE 

It  was  nine  o'clock  on  the  Monday  evening  which  Venetia 
had  named  for  her  appointment  with  the  prince  regent; 
and  his  Royal  Highness  sat  alone  in  a  small  but  sumptu- 
ously furnished  room  at  Carlton  House.  A  side  door  com- 
municated with  a  bedchamber,  which  was  fitted  up  with 
even  a  surpassing  luxury;  but  that  door  was  closed  for  the 
present. 

The  prince  rechned  upon  a  sofa  in  the  first-mentioned 
apartment,  and  he  was  giving  free  rein  to  all  the  voluptuous 
thoughts  which  the  image  of  Venetia  could  not  fail  to  conjure 
up  in  his  easily  excitable  imagination.  Within  reach  of  his 
hand  stood  a  table  spread  with  wines  of  many  exquisite 
descriptions  and  a  choice  dessert;  a  cheerful  fire  blazed  in 
the  grate;  the  heavy  hangings  were  drawn  over  the  windows, 
and  the  atmosphere  was  warm  and  perfumed.  A  lustre 
suspended  to  the  ceiUng  diffused  a  rich  and  mellow  light 
through  the  room,  and  the  general  aspect  of  luxurious 
comfort  was  enhanced  by  the  velvet  drapery  which  covered 
the  doors,  as  if  not  even  the  faintest  thrill  of  a  wintry 
air  should  be  allowed  to  penetrate  thither. 

We  said  that  the  prince  was  yielding  himself  up  to  the 
pleasures  of  imagination,  as  a  meet  and  provocative  prelude 
to  the  more  real  joys  that  were  to  come.  For  he  had  no 
doubt  as  to  Venetia's  keeping  her  appointment,  inasmuch 
as  she  had  written  him  a  note  in  the  morning  reiterating 
in  her  own  beautiful  calligraphy  the  hurried  promise  she 
had  made  on  the  evening  of  the  banquet  at  Colonel  Malpas's 
house. 

As  he  thus  reclined  upon  the  sofa,  confident  in  the  sin- 
cerity of  his  expected  charmer,  the  prince  insensibly  found 

162 


TO  WHICH  WE  CAN  GIVE  NO  TITLE  163 


himself  entering  into  a  comparison  between  her  beauty  and 
that  of  every  other  lovely  female  who  had  submitted  to  his 
embraces.  Their  number  was  legion,  it  was  true,  but  still 
in  a  rapid  survey  did  he  glance  at  them  all,  not  forgetting 
Octavia  Clarendon,  Mrs.  Fitzherbert,  Lady  Letitia  Lade, 
Mrs.  Brace,  the  milliner,  the  Countess  of  Jersey,  and  the 
Duchess  of  Devonshire;  and  he  came  at  length  to  the 
conclusion  that  none  was  to  be  compared  with  Venetia. 
Nor  in  this  mental  review  of  his  almost  countless  conquests 
amongst  beauties  of  all  grades  and  ranks,  from  the  duchess 
to  the  milliner,  from  the  countess  to  the  ballet-dancer,  and 
from  the  haughtiest  dame  to  the  humblest  servant-girl,  — 
nor  in  this  category,  we  say,  did  he  forget  to  include  Miss 
Bathurst,  Agatha  Owen,  and  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart.  He 
remembered  that  the  first-named  had  once  been  eminently 
beautiful;  his  mind  still  retained  pleasurable  impressions 
of  his  amour  with  Agatha;  but  chiefly  did  his  fancy  gloat 
over  the  superb  and  voluptuous  charms  of  the  impassioned 
Ernestina.  Between  this  lady,  then,  and  Venetia  did  he 
hover  in  a  few  moments'  uncertainty,  his  memory  com- 
paring their  respective  charms,  —  the  eyes,  hair,  complexion, 
and  bust  of  Ernestina,  with  the  eyes,  hair,  complexion, 
and  bust  of  Venetia;  but  at  length,  as  above  stated,  he 
gave  his  decision  in  favour  of  the  latter.  Yes,  for  about 
Venetia  there  was  all  the  first  freshness  of  youth,  the  bloom 
upon  the  peach  that  has  scarcely  come  in  contact  with  the 
rude  hand  of  man. 

And  now,  as  the  image  of  the  beauteous  creature  had 
become  paramount  in  his  mind,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  the 
rest,  he  felt  his  impatience  for  her  arrival  augmenting  every 
instant.  He  looked  at  his  watch;  it  was  ten  minutes  past 
nine  —  was  she  not  coming?  Yes;  for  scarcely  had  he 
asked  himself  the  question  when  the  door  opened  from  the 
landing  without,  the  velvet  drapery  was  pushed  aside,  and 
Venetia  was  ushered  into  his  presence.  The  curtain  fell 
again,  the  domestic  who  had  escorted  her  thither  closed  the 
door  behind  her,  and  the  prince  regent  sprang  forward 
to  clasp  her  in  his  arms. 

Venetia  had  made  her  appearance  closely  veiled  and 
enveloped  in  an  ample  cloak,  so  as  to  avoid  being  recognized 
by  the  prince's  servants;  but  she  now  hastily  threw  off  her 
bonnet  and  veil,  dropped  her  cloak,  and   fell  in  all  the 


164  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


grandeur  of  her  beauty  into  the  outstretched  arms  of  her 
royal  lover. 

"  Oh,  how  magnificent  you  look! "  murmured  the 
enraptured  prince,  as  he  conducted  her  to  a  seat  after 
fondly  and  fervidly  embracing  her;  then,  placing  himself 
by  her  side,  he  contemplated  her  with  the  earnest  looks 
of  a  devouring  sensuousness. 

As  the  Ught  shone  upon  the  beauteous  creature,  enhancing 
the  briUiancy  of  her  charms  into  positive  radiance,  she 
seemed  a  being  of  celestial  mould  and  nature.  Her  very 
presence  was  dazzling  and  overpowering;  for  every  feature 
and  contour  appeared  to  possess  its  own  Ught,  —  the  lustre 
of  the  eyes,  the  alabaster  of  the  forehead,  the  vivid  redness 
of  the  lips,  the  snowy  whiteness  of  the  neck  and  bosom, 
and  the  auburn  glory  of  the  hair. 

She  was  dressed  in  a  crimson  velvet  robe,  with  a  low 
bodice  fitting  tight  to  her  shape,  and  her  arms  were  naked. 
The  gentle  agitation  which  she  experienced  had  deepened 
the  rich  bloom  upon  her  cheeks,  and  altogether  she  looked 
so  transcendently  lovely  that  the  prince  felt  as  if  he  could 
surrender  not  only  his  present  rank  but  also  the  hope  of 
some  day  wearing  the  British  crown,  rather  than  resign  the 
certainty  of  possessing  her  this  night. 

"  Dearest  —  ever  dear  Venetia,"  he  said,  passing  one  arm 
around  her  neck,  and  drawing  her  gently  toward  him,  "  is 
it  indeed  possible  that  the  happy  moment  has  arrived  for 
me  to  enjoy  your  love?  —  or  am  I  plunged  in  a  delicious 
dream  which  is  to  know  the  waking  of  disappointment?  " 

^*  Faithful  to  my  promise,  I  am  here,"  murmured  Venetia, 
in  the  melting  tones  of  her  sweet,  limpid  voice.  "  Do  you 
remember  all  the  conditions  of  our  compact?  " 

"  You  shall  recapitulate  them,  my  angel,"  replied  the 
prince;  "  and  there  is  nothing  you  can  demand  to  which 
I  shall  hesitate  to  assent." 

"  First  and  foremost,"  said  Venetia,  it  was  agreed  that 
I  should  marry  in  order  to  save  my  reputation,  and  I  have 
done  so." 

''Ah!  happy  Horace  Sackville!  "  exclaimed  the  prince. 
"  But  tell  me,  dearest,  was  he  already  engaged  to  you  on 
that  day  when  we  agreed  that  you  should  marry?  " 

"  Assuredly  not,"  answered  Venetia.  "  But  I  was  aware 
that  he  formed  one  of  the  party  of  six  who  had  leagued,  or, 


TO  WHICH  WE  CAN  GIVE  NO  TITLE  165 


rather,  wagered  in  the  love-campaign;  I  hkewise  knew  that 
he  had  seen  me  often  and  was  inspired  with  an  affection 
for  me,  and  I  consequently  felt  certain  that  he  would  accept 
my  hand  in  marriage." 

But  does  he  know  —  is  he  aware  —  " 

That  I  am  come  hither  this  evening?  Yes;  before  we 
were  married  I  explained  to  him  that  she  whom  he  took 
as  his  wife  was  pledged  to  become  the  mistress  of  the 
prince." 

"  Truly  he  must  be  infatuated  with  you,  my  Venetia! 
But  this  is  not  wonderful;  thou  art  the  loveliest  woman 
that  ever  trod  upon  the  earth." 

0  flatterer!  "  cried  Venetia,  with  playful  remonstrance. 
"  But  I  have  before  told  you  how  readily  and  fluently  these 
compUments  glide  from  your  tongue." 

By  Heaven!  they  are  truths  when  apphed  to  thee," 
exclaimed  the  prince,  first  devouring  her  with  his  regards 
and  then  covering  her  face,  shoulders,  and  bosom  with 
frenetic  kisses.  ^'  But  you  were  recapitulating  the  terms 
of  our  compact?  Go  on,  and  let  us  finish  all  details  savouring 
of  business,  that  we  may  devote  ourselves  wholly  and  solely 
to  the  enjoyments  of  love." 

It  was  agreed,"  continued  Venetia,  "  that  you  were 
to  find  some  office  for  my  husband  about  your  royal  person, 
so  that  we  might  have  a  suite  of  apartments  allotted  to  us 
at  Carlton  House." 

"  To-morrow  Horace  Sackville  shall  receive  the  appoint- 
ment of  lord  steward  of  my  household,"  said  the  prince. 
"  The  post  has  been  vacant  for  these  last  ten  days,  and  I 
cannot  more  worthily  fill  it  up  than  by  the  nomination  of 
my  charming  Venetians  husband." 

"  And  the  name  which  I  bear  was  also  to  be  gilded  with 
a  peerage,"  murmured  Venetia,  now  displaying  all  her  most 
winning  seductiveness. 

"  That  condition  shall  likewise  be  kept,  angel  that  thou 
art!  "  cried  the  regent,  straining  her  in  his  arms.  "  Hast 
thou  aught  more  to  demand?  " 

"  Nothing,"  responded  Venetia,  her  countenance  radiant 
with  joy  and  triumph. 

"  And  thou  art  mine?  "  said  the  prince;  "  tell  me  that 
thou  art  mine!  " 

"  Yes,  I  am  thine,"  she  murmured,  her  voice  suddenly 


166  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


sinking  to  a  dying  tone,  as  her  head  drooped  upon  his 
shoulder  and  she  fell  upon  his  breast. 

It  was  still  dark,  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  when 
Venetia  stole  forth  from  the  private  door  of  Carlton  Palace. 
She  was  enveloped  in  her  ample  cloak  and  the  thick  veil 
was  drawn  completely  over  her  countenance,  so  that  not 
even  the  most  prying  eye  could  discover  the  brilliant  heroine 
of  our  tale  through  that  deep  disguise. 

Hurrying  to  the  nearest  hackney-coach  stand,  she  entered 
a  vehicle  and  ordered  the  driver  to  proceed  toward  Knights- 
bridge.  When  within  a  short  distance  of  Acacia  Cottage, 
she  stopped  the  coach  and  descended,  performing  the  rest 
of  the  way  on  foot.  Immediately  upon  reaching  her  home 
and  tapping  gently  with  her  hand  at  the  front  door,  it  was 
opened  by  Horace;  and  passing  in,  she  stole  noiselessly 
up-stairs,  followed  by  her  husband. 

The  moment  they  were  together  in  their  chamber,  and 
Venetia  had  thrown  aside  her  bonnet  and  cloak,  she  flung  a 
rapid  and  anxious  glance  upon  her  husband,  by  the  light  of 
the  candle  which  was  burning  upon  the  toilet-table.  She 
saw  that  his  countenance  was  very  pale,  but  that  he  en- 
deavoured to  subdue  the  emotion  which  he  felt ;  and  throwing 
herself  into  his  arms,  she  gave  vent  to  a  violent  fit  of  weeping. 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  tranquillize  yourself,  my  dearest 
Venetia,'*  murmured  Horace,  in  a  soothing  tone,  as  he 
strained  her  to  his  breast.  "  These  sobs  will  be  overheard; 
the  domestics  will  soon  be  about  in  the  house,  and  they  will 
catch  the  sounds  of  your  grief." 

"  But  do  you  not  now  hate,  loathe,  and  despise  me?  " 
asked  Venetia,  suddenly  wiping  her  eyes  and  gazing  anxiously 
up  into  his  countenance. 

"  Do  you  not  hate,  loathe,  and  despise  me  for  having 
permitted  this?  "  he  inquired,  with  some  degree  of  bitter- 
ness in  his  tone.  "  But  let  us  not  enter  again  and  again 
and  again  upon  the  discussion  of  a  subject  on  which  we  have 
already  talked  so  seriously  and  so  often,  and  which  indeed," 
he  added,    has  now  proceeded  too  far  to  admit  of  recall." 

"  Yes,  but  has  it  left  no  regret  behind,  Horace?  "  asked 
Venetia. 

"  In  one  sense,  certainly,"  he  exclaimed.  "  But  the  neces- 
sity which  has  ruled  us  was  almost  as  inexorable  as  destiny 


TO  WHICH  WE  CAN  GIVE  NO  TITLE  167 


itself.  Indeed,  it  was  our  destiny,  and  therefore  regret  is 
useless.    Rather  let  us  look  to  the  brightest  side  —  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  if  you  really  have  the  heart  to  do  so,"  exclaimed 
Venetia,  joyfully.  "  Well,  our  ambition  will  be  gratified, 
our  hopes  will  be  realized,  and  this  day's  Gazette  will  elevate 
you  to  rank  and  to  honour." 

"  You  are  to  be  a  peeress,  then,  Venetia,"  said  Horace, 
caressing  her  fondly. 

"  Yes,  because  you  are  to  become  a  peer,"  she  replied. 

"  And  we  are  to  remove  to  Carlton  House?  " 

"  Immediately.    The  post  of  lord  steward  is  yours." 

"  Oh,  now  you  will  shine  as  the  most  brilliant  star  in  the 
courtly  sphere,  my  charming  Venetia." 

And  you  will  have  an  opportunity  of  shining  also,  my 
handsome  Horace." 

These  are  indeed  dazzling  and  brilliant  prospects," 
exclaimed  the  young  man;  and  I  suppose  it  is  mortal 
destiny  that  no  ambition  can  be  accomplished  without  the 
sacrifice  of  some  of  our  best  feelings." 

"  But  if  we  do  not  lose  our  love  for  each  other,  Horace," 
said  Venetia,  may  we  not  be  happy,  even  though  our 
happiness  be  purchased  by  my  dishonour?  " 

We  will  make  ourselves  happy,"  observed  the  husband, 
emphatically;  but  still  he  sighed  as  he  spoke  these  words, 
and  the  forcefulness  of  his  accentuation  was  only  assumed 
suddenly  to  drown  that  sigh. 

Venetia  sighed  also,  for  she  was  not  so  far  tainted  with 
depravity,  especially  after  this  her  first  fault,  as  to  be  other- 
wise than  keenly  sensible  of  the  fact  that  it  was  now  a 
polluted  woman  whom  her  husband  was  clasping  in  his  arms. 
They  retired  to  rest,  for  it  was  still  too  early  to  go  down- 
stairs; and  Venetia  was  glad  when  the  candle  was  extin- 
guished and  she  could  conceal  her  countenance  from  the 
eyes  of  Horace,  for  it  was  suffused  with  burning  blushes. 

But  they  slept,  and  at  a  late  hour  they  rose;  and  now 
the  first  feelings  of  embarrassment,  confusion,  and  even 
grief  had  subsided.  They  began  to  look  their  shame  more 
boldly  in  the  face,  and  the  result  was  that  they  could  soon 
look  at  each  other  also  without  blushing.  The  forbidden 
fruit  was  plucked  and  eaten,  they  had  quitted  the  paradise 
of  nuptial  purity,  they  now  knew  all  their  moral  nakedness, 
and  speedily  ceased  to  be  ashamed.   It  appeared  as  if  by  a 


168  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


mutual  but  tacit  resolve  they  had  suddenly  determined  to 
avoid  the  topic  altogether;  and  they  now  looked  forward  to 
the  happiness  that  was  to  be  derived  from  briUiancy  of 
position,  rather  than  from  the  sweet  and  unimpaired  do- 
mesticity of  the  married  state. 

Mrs.  Arbuthnot  and  Penelope  were  staying  with  Miss 
Bathurst  in  Stratton  Street;  and  thus  the  newly  married 
pair  had  no  one  to  observe  the  changing  condition  of  their 
minds.  The  servants  were  of  course  ignorant  that  Venetia 
had  passed  the  greater  portion  of  the  night  away  from 
home,  and  thus  her  honour  was  likewise  safe. 

In  the  course  of  the  day  two  official  documents  were  de- 
livered at  Acacia  Cottage.  One  contained  the  patent 
elevating  Mr.  Horace  Sackville  to  the  rank  of  a  baron  of 
the  realm,  by  the  style  and  title  of  Lord  Sackville;  the 
second  appointed  him  to  the  post  of  lord  steward  in  the 
household  of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent. 

The  entire  fashionable  world  was  struck  with  astonishment 
at  these  announcements,  when  they  appeared  in  the  Gazette^ 
and  there  was  no  difficulty  in  attributing  them  to  the  fact 
that  the  newly  created  nobleman  possessed  as  his  wife  the 
most  beautiful  woman  in  England.  But  scandal  dared  not 
raise  its  voice  too  loud,  much  less  openly  point  a  scornful 
finger  at  Lord  and  Lady  Sackville,  inasmuch  as  the  matri- 
monial gloss  was  shed  upon  whatever  amount  of  frailty 
there  might  be  in  the  matter.  The  consequence  was  that 
for  several  days  running  Acacia  Cottage  was  crowded  with 
visitors  who  called  to  congratulate  the  noble  pair,  and  the 
Knightsbridge  road  was  thronged  with  the  carriages  of  what 
is  called  the  ehte  of  the  aristocracy  hastening  thither  to  pay 
their  court  to  the  new  lord  steward  and  the  prince's  new 
mistress. 

At  the  end  of  the  week  Horace  and  Venetia  removed  to 
the  apartments  which  had  been  provided  for  them  in  Carlton 
House,  —  the  faithful  Jessica,  Plumpstead,  and  the  serious- 
looking  footman  still  remaining  in  their  service. 


CHAPTER  XVI 


THE  GIBBET 

Between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  on  Sunday  evening  several 
groups  of  persons  began  to  collect  in  the  Old  Bailey,  but 
chiefly  in  the  wide  open  space  opposite  Newgate.  During 
the  past  week  the  recorder  had  made  his  report  to  the  prince 
regent  relative  to  the  state  of  the  prison,  and  in  that  report 
one  individual  was  named  as  being  under  sentence  of  death. 
In  the  case  of  this  person  it  appeared  as  if  the  law  was  to 
be  allowed  to  take  its  course,  for  a  warrant  had  been  issued 
for  his  execution,  and  hence  the  assembling  of  the  groups 
of  idlers  on  the  eve  of  the  fatal  Monday. 

The  person  thus  alluded  to  was  Paul  Dysart. 

Chill  and  misty  was  this  Sunday  evening,  dark,  sombre, 
and  awe-inspiring  was  the  aspect  of  Newgate  through  the 
deepening  gloom.  Shivering,  ragged,  half-starved  wretches 
gathered  near  the  debtor's  door,  whispering,  as  they  pointed 
to  it,  That's  the  place  the  man  who's  to  be  hung  will  come 
out  of  to-morrow  morning!  "  Others  posted  themselves 
on  the  very  spot  close  by  where  the  scaffold  would  be  placed, 
sa)dng,  in  subdued  voices,  "It  is  just  here  that  the  drop 
will  fall  beneath  his  feet!  "  Farther  on,  other  groups  were 
collected  near  the  entrance  of  the  press-yard,  observing 
amongst  themselves,  The  gibbet  will  be  wheeled  out  of 
this  place!  "  In  fact,  there  was  not  a  scene,  a  spot,  nor  a 
detail  connected  with  the  awful  tragedy  of  a  pubHc  execution 
that  escaped  comment  or  explanation  on  the  part  of  the 
idlers  who  were  already  gathering  to  the  theatre  of  the 
forthcoming  spectacle. 

Soon  after  ten  o'clock  on  this  same  Sunday  evening  a 
private  carriage  drove  up  to  the  Saracen's  Head  on  Snow 
Hill,  and  six  gentlemen  alighted. 

169 


170  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  You  can  come  for  us  to-morrow  morning  at  nine  o^clock/' 
said  one  of  the  party,  addressing  himself  to  the  hvery 
servant  in  attendance  upon  the  carriage. 
Yes,  my  lord,"  was  the  reply. 

"  What  makes  you  say  nine,  Curzon?  "  demanded  another 
of  the  party.  "  It  will  be  all  over  at  five  minutes  past 
eight." 

"  But  we  shall  stop  to  see  the  body  cut  down  after  hanging 
an  hour,  eh?  "  exclaimed  the  earl. 

"Ah!  that's  different,"  observed  the  other.  "  I  forgot 
this  portion  of  the  ceremony,"  he  added,  coolly,  as  he 
whiffed  his  cigar.  "  To  be  sure!  We  won't  miss  any  act  in 
the  Newgate  drama." 

His  companions  laughed,  and  as  the  carriage  drove  away, 
they  all  entered  the  coffee-room  of  the  Saracen's  Head, 
cracking  jokes  and  indulging  in  a  variety  of  witty  sayings 
and  repartees  as  they  traversed  the  inn-yard. 

The  party  consisted  of  the  Earl  of  Curzon,  who  is  already 
well  known  to  our  readers,  the  Honourable  George  Mac- 
namara  and  Lieutenant  Apsley,  both  of  whom  have  been  pre- 
viously mentioned.  Lord  Plantagenet  Tithtide,  a  young 
nobleman  who  had  just  come  of  age  and  just  got  into  the 
House  of  Commons  for  a  pocket-borough  in  the  gift  of  his 
father,  the  Duke  of  Addlebranes,  the  Marquis  of  Brandyford, 
a  peer  of  the  realm,  and  who  infinitely  preferred  the  excite- 
ment of  wrenching  off  knockers  to  taking  part  in  the  prosy 
debates  of  the  Upper  House,  and  Count  d'Orsayville,  a 
foreign  adventurer  who  had  worked  his  way  into  the  very 
best  society,  so  that  he  set  the  fashion  for  all  the  male 
members  of  the  higher  class,  and  was  an  immense  favourite 
amongst  all  the  ladies  of  the  same  sphere.  The  count 
sported  a  beautiful  moustache,  was  really  very  handsome, 
possessed  the  most  fascinating  manners,  and  wore  a  semimiL 
itary  cloak  the  cut  of  which  was  the  envy  of  all  his  male  ac- 
quaintances. 

On  entering  the  coffee-room,  this  delectable  party  flung 
themselves  each  upon  a  chair,  one  yawning,  another  sprawl- 
ing out  his  legs,  a  third  putting  his  legs  upon  an  adjacent 
table,  a  fourth  laughing  heartily  at  nothing,  a  fifth  uttering 
an  oath  by  way  of  amusement  (for  he  had  really  nought  to 
swear  at),  and  the  Earl  of  Curzon  (who  made  the  sixth) 
ringing  the  bell  so  furiously  that  the  wire  snapped  in  twain. 


THE  GIBBET 


171 


"  Now,,  waiter,"  said  this  last-mentioned  personage,  when 
the  tavern  functionary  made  his  appearance,  "  we  want 
a  private  sitting-room  for  the  night." 

Yes,  my  lord,"  responded  the  waiter,  to  whom  the  Earl 
of  Curzon  was  known. 

And  no  end  of  whithkey  punth,"  cried  Lord  Plantagenet 
Tithtide,  who  had  the  misfortune  to  Hsp  somewhat,  —  a 
circumstance  which  did  not  disqualify  him  from  becoming 
a  Member  of  Parhament,  because  he  was  a  lord. 

"  And  a  box  of  the  best  cigars,  wai-tar!  "  roared  out  the 
Marquis  of  Brandyford.  "  Now  mind  they're  good,  you 
unhung  scoundrel,  you,  or,  by  Jove,  I'll  punch  your  head 
into  a  jelly  for  you!  " 

"  And  a  demn'd  good  fire  bethidth,"  added  Lord  Plan- 
tagenet. "  But  don't  neglecth  the  whithkey  punth,  you 
pwethiouth  wathcal!  " 

"  Vot  you  call  de  viskey  pohnch  vare  good,  —  vare  good," 
observed  the  Count  d'Orsayville. 

The  waiter  promised  instantaneous  compliance  with  all 
the  instructions  he  had  received;  and  as  he  retired  from  the 
room  the  Marquis  of  Brandyford  sent  the  cushion  of  a  chair 
spinning  after  him,  but  the  domestic,  who  was  well  on  his 
guard  against  his  lordship's  tricks,  nimbly  avoided  the 
missile.  The  freak,  however,  caused  the  entire  party  to 
laugh  immoderately,  and  Lord  Plantagenet  Tithtide  de- 
clared that  it  was  *^  ekthellenth  sport h,"  while  the  count 
exclaimed,  "  Vare  good!   Vare  good!  " 

In  the  course  of  half  an  hour  the  private  sitting-room  was 
announced  to  be  in  readiness,  and  thither  the  aristocratic 
company  repaired,  the  Marquis  of  Brandyford  tripping  up 
a  commercial  traveller  whom  they  met  upon  the  stairs,  and 
then  gravely  apologizing  to  him  for  the  "  accidental  occur- 
rence." This  proceeding  excited  another  burst  of  uproarious 
laughter,  which  was  prolonged  by  the  circumstance  of  the 
said  humourous  marquis  kissing  an  old  charwoman  of  seventy 
who  was  clearing  away  some  things  upon  the  landing. 

The  room  to  which  the  waiter  escorted  the  party  was  the 
best  in  the  house;  for  although  the  landlord  was  fully 
prepared  to  find  everything  smashed  to  pieces  in  the  morn- 
ing, he  was  equally  aware  that  his  bill  for  the  damage  would 
be  liberally  paid,  —  and,  indeed,  he  was  not  altogether  sorry 
at  the  prospect  of  thus  having  an  opportunity  of  furnishing 


172  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


that  particular  apartment  anew.  A  blazing  fire  roared  half- 
way up  the  chimney,  dessert,  wine,  and  materials  for  punch 
were  spread  upon  the  table,  and  a  box  of  cigars  likewise 
greeted  the  view  of  the  aristocratic  convivialists. 

"  Now  we'll  make  ourselves  comfortable  till  the  morning," 
said  the  Honourable  George  Macnamara. 

And  I'll  brew  the  punch,"  exclaimed  Lieutenant  Apsley, 
tucking  up  his  coat-sleeves. 

"  No  bwandy  nor  wum,  Apthley,  mind!  "  observed  Lord 
Plant agenet;  only  whithkey,  and  be  thure  and  queeth 
loth  of  lemonth." 

"  I'll  be  hanged  if  I'll  drink  any  of  your  infernal  con- 
coctions," vociferated  Lord  Brandy  ford.  True  to  my 
name,  I  mean  to  get  as  drunk  as  blazes  on  brandy." 

"  Vare  good,  markee,  vare  good!  "  exclaimed  the  count. 
"  You  shall  have  de  true  English  taste.  But  why  for  you 
not  have  de  portare?  Wot  you  call  de  pot  of  portare  most 
best  for  you,  markee,  me  tink." 

"  Oh,  deuce  take  the  swipes  when  one  means  to  get  jolly/' 
said  the  marquis. 

"  Tho  I  thay,"  cried  Lord  Plantagenet.  "  You  thould 
wub  the  lumpth  of  thugar  againth  the  peel  of  the  lemonth, 
Apthley.  If  you  don't,  you'll  not  thucktheed  in  bwewing 
punth  at  all  dwinkable." 

"  Leave  Apsley  to  manage  it,  Tithtide,"  said  the  Earl  of 
Curzon.  ^'  He  always  brews  for  the  guards'  mess,  and  no  one 
can  do  it  better.  I  wonder  what  the  devil  Dysart  is  thinking 
of  now.  He  little  suspects  that  so  many  of  his  friends  are  at 
hand  to  see  him  dance  his  last  fling." 

"  Vare  good!    Vare  good!  "  ejaculated  the  count. 

"  But  if  a  wepwieve  thould  come  at  the  lath  moment, 
we  thall  be  mithewably  balked  and  diththappointed.  It 
would  weally  be  too  bad  of  Dythart  to  acthept  it  after  all  the 
twouble  we've  given  ourthelvth." 

Dat  vare  good,  milor,  vare  good!  "  cried  the  count, 
almost  going  into  ecstasies. 

"  I  saw  the  prince  yesterday,"  said  Curzon,  and  he 
assured  me  that,  as  the  jury  did  not  recommend  Dysart  to 
mercy,  he  had  no  alternative  but  to  allow  the  law  to  take 
its  course." 

"  Oh!  if  the  pwinth  said  that,"  cried  Lord  Plantagenet, 
a  considerable  weight  now  taken  from  his  mind,    we  are  all 


THE  GIBBET 


173 


thafe.  I  never  yet  thaw  an  ekthecuthion,  and  wouldn't 
mith  the  pwethent  occathion  for  a  thouthand  guineath." 

Vare  good!  "  cried  the  count.  'Tis  de  fine  old  English 
custom  to  hang  up  as  many  of  de  English  people  as  de  law 
shall  allow." 

Ah!  we  beat  you,  count,  you  see,"  exclaimed  the  Mar- 
quis of  Brandyford,  in  our  public  executions.  Give  me  the 
excitement  of  one  good  hanging-scene  in  preference  to  all 
your  guillotining." 

Tho  I  thay,"  said  the  lisping  nobleman,  who  was  ama- 
zingly fond  of  hearing  himself  talk.  But  I  am  athtonithed 
that  the  influenth  of  Lady  Ernethtina  and  the  Marquith 
of  Levethon  did  not  thucktheed  in  getting  Dythart  off." 

"  The  marquis  hates  him,"  said  Curzon.  Moreover, 
he  is  on  the  Continent,  and  I  have  no  doubt  he  went  thither 
to  be  out  of  the  way  at  the  present  time." 

"  Well,  I  cannot  say  that  I  ever  Uked  Dysart  much," 
observed  Lieutenant  Apsley,  as  he  squeezed  the  lemons 
into  the  punch-bowl.  "  Besides,  that  affair  with  young 
Sefton  was  a  downright  murder." 

''To  be  sure,"  exclaimed  the  Honourable  George  Mac- 
namara,  and  he  deserves  to  be  hanged  for  it.  But,  by 
the  bye,  we  must  tell  that  scoundrel  of  a  waiter  not  to  go 
to  bed  all  night,  as  we  shall  want  breakfast  at  six  or  seven 
o'clock  in  the  morning." 

''  And  let  us  send  him  to  hire  a  couple  of  windows  for  us 
exactly  facing  Newgate,"  suggested  the  Marquis  of  Brandy- 
ford. 

"  Yeth,  we  muth  take  care  and  wetain  fwont  theath  to 
witneth  the  performanth,"  cried  Lord  Plantagenet. 

"  Vare  good!    Vare  good!  "  exclaimed  the  count. 

The  waiter  was  accordingly  summoned;  and  having 
received  his  instructions  in  pursuance  of  the  resolves  just 
adopted,  he  departed  at  once  to  secure  a  couple  of  windows 
at  some  house  fronting  the  prison.  In  about  ten  minutes 
he  returned  with  the  gratifying  intelligence  that  he  had 
succeeded  in  retaining  a  first-floor  room  opposite  Newgate, 
for  the  moderate  sum  of  ten  guineas.  This  bargain  was 
pronounced  "  dirt  cheap "  by  the  aristocratic  band  of 
elegants;  and  the  Marquis  of  Brandyford  flung  his  purse  at 
the  waiter's  head,  bidding  him  ''  go  and  settle  for  the  room, 
and  keep  the  rest  for  himself."    The  purse  hit  the  waiter 


174  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


upon  the  right  eye,  which  it  completely  bunged  up;  but  as 
the  use  of  the  left  optic  still  remained,  and  as  the  heaviness 
of  the  purse  convinced  the  waiter  that  it  contained  a  tolerable 
quantity  of  golden  salve,  he  took  the  joke  with  a  proportion- 
ate amount  of  good  humour. 

But  leaving  the  aristocratic  party  to  the  enjoyment  of 
their  punch,  discourse,  and  practical  freaks,  we  will  pene- 
trate into  the  prison  of  Newgate  and  glance  at  Mr.  Dysart 
in  the  condemned  cell. 

It  was  now  eleven  o'clock,  and  the  criminal  was  alone  in 
that  dungeon.  Upon  the  little  round  table  stood  a  cold 
fowl  and  a  bottle  of  wine,  to  which  he  was  paying  his  respects 
with  all  imaginable  ease  and  comfort;  for  the  nearer  the 
hour  approached  for  him  to  mount  the  scaffold,  the  more 
joyfully  did  he  look  forward  to  it  as  the  term  of  the  ordeal 
through  which  he  was  passing.  In  plainer  terms,  he  was 
so  well  convinced  that  the  reprieve  would  be  produced  the 
moment  the  halter  was  affixed  to  his  neck,  and  that  a  free 
pardon  would  follow  as  a  matter  of  course  in  a  few  days,  that 
he  was  actually  impatient  for  the  hour  which  would  terminate 
what  he  now  looked  upon  as  mere  bother,  excitement,  and 
annoyance." 

Ernestina  had  visited  him  daily  since  his  condemnation; 
and  on  each  occasion  she  had  some  new  proof  to  offer  of 
the  prince's  kind  feelings  toward  him.  Moreover,  the 
governor,  entirely  misled  by  her  representations  and  obse- 
quiously anxious  to  oblige  her,  had  given  Dysart  the  most 
positive  assurances  that  the  sheriff  would  produce  the 
reprieve  upon  the  scaffold.  He  had  even  gone  so  far  as  to 
hint  the  same  to  the  chaplain;  and  this  reverend  gentleman, 
while  discussing  a  bottle  of  wine  with  Mr.  Dysart  in  his  cell, 
had  reiterated  the  governor's  assurances.  Under  all  these 
circumstances,  therefore,  the  prisoner  entertained  no  fear 
as  to  the  result;  and  while  the  gathering  crowds  in  the  Old 
Bailey  were  observing  amongst  themselves  how  dreadful 
his  feelings  must  be,  he  was  comfortably  regaling  his  appe- 
tite on  a  cold  capon  and  an  excellent  bottle  of  sherry. 

Having  partaken  of  his  supper,  Dysart  undressed  and 
retired  to  bed,  where  he  speedily  fell  into  a  sound  sleep. 
As  the  night  advanced,  the  multitudes  increased  outside 
the  gaol,  and  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  carpenters 
made  their  appearance  to  erect  the  barrier  around  the 


THE  GIBBET 


175 


debtor's  door,  in  order  to  keep  back  the  pressure  of  the 
crowds.  Despite  the  noise  of  their  hammers,  the  criminal 
slept  on. 

At  six  o'clock  the  platform  of  the  gallows  was  wheeled 
out  of  the  press-yard,  and  stationed  on  the  verge  of  the 
pavement  at  the  debtor's  door.  The  carpenters  then  pro- 
ceeded to  fix  the  ladder  and  erect  the  huge  beams  of  the 
gibbet,  all  their  operations  being  viewed  with  intense  curi- 
osity and  deep  interest  by  the  multitude  that  was  swelling 
in  bulk  and  volume  every  moment. 

From  an  early  hour  a  black  fellow,  roughly  dressed  and 
carrying  a  huge  club  in  his  hand,  had  been  lurking  near 
the  debtor's  door;  and  when  the  barrier  was  put  up,  he 
elbowed  his  way  to  a  place  as  near  that  door  as  possible. 
There  he  remained  fixed  like  a  statue,  leaning  with  his  arms 
upon  the  barrier,  and  neither  addressing  a  word  to  a  soul 
nor  appearing  to  pay  any  attention  to  the  discourse  that  was 
going  on  in  his  hearing. 

It  was  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  before  Dysart  awoke 
from  his  slumber,  and  he  would  perhaps  have  slept  on,  had 
not  the  entrance  of  the  chaplain  disturbed  him.  He  in- 
quired the  hour,  and  on  being  informed,  was  astonished  to 
hear  that  it  was  so  late. 

You  have  slept  well?  "  said  the  chaplain. 

"  Never  better  in  my  life,"  responded  the  criminal,  gaily. 

I  will  now  get  up." 

And  in  ten  minutes  I  will  return,"  said  the  chaplain. 

The  reverend  gentleman  then  quitted  the  cell,  and  Dysart 
proceeded  to  wash  and  dress  himself  with  as  much  unconcern 
as  he  had  displayed  when  eating  his  supper  overnight.  On 
the  return  of  the  chaplain,  he  asked  if  the  sheriff  had  yet 
arrived,  but  the  response  was  in  the  negative.  The  ordinary 
then  hinted  that  it  would  be  proper  for  them  to  join  in 
prayer,  but  Dysart  exclaimed,  You  don't  think,  sir, 
that  it  is  at  all  necessary  just  now,  do  you?  " 

^'  Prayer  is  always  seasonable  and  of  much  avail,"  was  the 
chaplain's  response. 

But  you  feel  convinced  that  I  shall  be  reprieved?  "  said 
Dysart,  with  some  little  manifestation  of  uneasiness,  or 
rather,  perhaps,  of  impatience. 

"  The  governor  has  assured  me  that  such  will  be  the  case," 
answered  the  ordinary,  "  and  I  believe  him  to  be  far  too 


176  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


cautious  a  man  to  venture  such  a  statement  unless  on  good 
authority." 

When  the  sheriff  comes  I  can  ask  him,"  observed  Dysart. 

"  My  good  friend,  that  will  be  a  breach  of  confidence," 
said  the  chaplain,  in  a  tone  or  remonstrance,  and  would 
probably  lead  to  the  loss  of  our  situations  for  both  the 
governor  and  myself." 

"  True!  I  had  forgotten  that,"  exclaimed  Dysart.  "  Will 
you  be  so  kind  as  to  ask  the  governor  to  come  to  me?  " 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the  chaplain;  and  he  once  more 
quitted  the  cell. 

When  left  alone,  Dysart  walked  backward  and  forward 
with  a  restlessness  that  he  had  not  before  experienced.  He 
endeavoured  to  shake  off  the  feeling,  but  it  was  rapidly 
growing  upon  him.  Horrible  thoughts  began  to  spring  up 
in  his  mind.  What  if  the  prince  should  have  been  playing 
him  false  all  along,  or  alter  his  resolve  at  the  last  moment? 
What  if  Ernestina  had  been  deceiving  him?  Or  suppose 
that  every  intention  and  every  assurance  had  been  sincere 
in  those  quarters,  might  not  the  reprieve  come  too  late? 
These  thoughts  were  dreadful.  The  unhappy  man,  hitherto 
lulled  into  complete  security,  had  now  suddenly  awakened, 
as  it  were,  to  a  galling,  goading,  agonizing  sense  of  the 
tremendous  fact  that  his  life  hung  to  a  thread.  He  would 
have  screamed  out,  —  he  could  have  yelled  with  mortal 
anguish,  but  at  the  instant  the  paroxysm  reached  its  crisis 
the  chaplain  returned  to  the  cell,  followed  by  the  governor. 

The  expression  of  the  two  functionaries'  countenances 
instantaneously  relieved  Dysart 's  awful  terrors.  The  effect 
was  the  same  as  the  sudden  pouring  of  oil  upon  the  raging 
billows;  and  even  before  a  word  was  spoken,  he  felt  angry 
with  himself  for  having  yielded  to  the  influence  of  such 
agonizing  alarm. 

Good  morning,  Mr.  Dysart,"  said  the  governor,  taking 
him  by  the  hand;  then,  in  a  lower  voice,  he  added,  "  A 
sealed  packet  from  the  Home  Office,  directed  to  the  sheriff, 
has  just  arrived.  But  for  Heaven's  sake  do  not  appear  to 
know  this  fact;  it  is  as  much  as  my  place  is  worth  to  have 
told  you." 

Not  on  any  consideration  would  I  injure  you,  my  dear 
sir,"  answered  Dysart,  joyfully  pressing  the  governor's 
hand,    after  all  your  kindness  to  me.    But  is  the  sheriff 


THE  GIBBET 


177 


come?  Has  he  opened  the  packet?  Does  it  contain  the 
reprieve?  " 

It  cannot  possibly  be  anything  else,"  returned  the  gov- 
ernor. The  sheriff  will  not  be  here  till  a  quarter  to  eight, 
nor  will  he  open  the  packet  in  my  presence.  I  dare  not  even 
ask  him  what  it  contains,  but  I  have  not  the  slightest  — 
no,  not  the  slightest  doubt  —  " 

What  o'clock  is  it  now? "  demanded  the  criminal, 
hurriedly. 

"  Half-past  seven.  Will  you  take  some  breakfast?  In- 
deed, you  must  appear  as  if  you  anticipated  the  very  worst," 
said  the  governor,  with  marked  emphasis. 

Since  I  have  nothing  to  apprehend,  I  can  assume  an 
air  which  shall  pass  for  firmness,"  replied  Dysart.  "  Yes, 
let  me  have  some  breakfast;  it  will  warm  me." 

Leaving  the  interior  of  the  prison  for  a  few  moments,  we 
will  again  glance  to  the  aspect  of  the  scene  outside. 

The  morning  was  dull  and  gloomy,  and  soon  after  the 
break  of  day,  a  fine  mizzhng  rain  had  begun  to  fall.  The 
crowd  was  immense.  To  the  farther  extremity  of  the  Old 
Bailey  in  the  one  direction,  and  to  the  very  verge  of  Smith- 
field  market  on  the  other,  it  was  a  complete  ocean  of  human 
faces.  Men  and  women,  —  numbers  of  the  latter  with  young 
children  in  their  arms,  —  boys  and  girls,  even  of  a  tender 
age,  all  were  packed  as  densely  as  the  aggregation  of  such  a 
mass  of  life  could  possibly  become.  Every  window  and 
housetop  commanding  a  view  of  the  gaol's  front  and  the 
looming  gallows  had  been  put  into  requisition  by  the  anxious 
spectators.  Precisely  opposite  the  gibbet,  a  first-floor 
apartment  was  tenanted  for  the  nonce  by  the  aristocrats 
who  had  passed  the  night  at  the  Saracen's  Head;  and 
having  well  breakfasted  off  devilled  kidneys,  coffee,  and 
toast,  these  worthies  found  themselves  in  an  excellent 
humour  to  enjoy  the  drama  about  to  be  enacted. 

At  a  quarter  to  eight  one  of  the  sheriffs,  the  two  under- 
sheriffs,  and  a  couple  of  aldermen  arrived  at  the  gaol.  They 
were  immediately  ushered  into  the  governor's  drawing-room, 
and  the  sealed  packet  from  the  Home  Office  was  delivered 
to  the  sheriff.  He  at  once  retired  into  a  private  room  to 
open  it,  and  having  perused  the  contents,  which  were  laconic 
enough,  he  carefully  consigned  the  despatch  to  his  pocket. 
On  returning  to  the  drawing-room,  his  countenance,  re- 


178  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 

maining  as  composed  as  before,,  afforded  not  the  least  indicar- 
tion  of  the  nature  of  the  official  document  which  he  had 
received,  while  etiquette  forbade  even  the  under-sheriffs 
to  venture  an  inquiry  upon  the  point. 

I  understood  you  on  Saturday/'  said  the  sheriff,  address- 
ing himself  to  the  governor,  "  that  there  was  no  person  then 
engaged  to  officiate  as  the  functionary  of  the  law." 

"  And  such  is  still  the  case,  sir,"  replied  the  governor. 
"  I  believed  that  some  criminal  within  the  walls  would  have 
accepted  the  post  of  pubUc  executioner,  but  only  a  few 
minutes  before  your  arrival  the  turnkeys  assured  me  that 
not  a  single  soul  would  undertake  the  office." 

Then  a  proclamation  must  be  made  to  the  multitude 
outside  the  prison,"  said  the  sheriff.  I  will  proceed  to 
fulfil  that  duty  at  once." 

Accordingly,  followed  by  the  under-sheriffs  and  the 
governor,  the  high  civic  functionary  repaired  to  the  debtor's 
door,  and  ascending  the  steps  of  the  gallows,  he  mounted 
the  platform.  A  dead  silence  fell  upon  the  congregated  mass 
of  people,  the  m^urmuring  of  their  myriad  voices  suddenly 
ceasing,  and  the  oscillation  of  the  living  waves  subsiding 
into  a  calm.  Every  eye  was  fixed  with  an  expression  of 
curiosity  and  suspense  upon  the  sheriff,  as  he  proceeded  to 
make  the  proclamation,  which  was  to  the  effect  that  an 
individual  was  required  to  undertake  the  office  of  public 
executioner,  and  that  should  such  volunteering  individual 
have  in  any  way  rendered  himself  amenable  or  obnoxious 
to  the  law,  he  (the  sheriff)  was  empowered  to  offer  him  a  free 
pardon  for  his  offences. 

Scarcely  were  the  words  spoken,  when  a  loud  voice  ex- 
claimed, "  I  accept  the  proposition!  "  and  the  savage-looking 
black  fellow  already  mentioned  jumped  upon  the  barrier 
and  scrambled  up  to  the  platform  of  the  gallows. 

Hooray!  "  shouted  the  multitudes,  which  for  a  moment 
had  feared  that  they  were  to  be  balked  of  the  spectacle  they 
had  crowded  thither  to  behold. 

Nor  less  were  the  aristocratic  exquisites  at  the  two  windows 
opposite  rejoiced  to  find  that  the  drama  would  proceed  with- 
out the  interruption  that  had  for  an  instant  appeared  to 
threaten  its  tragic  development. 

The  sheriff  descended  from  the  scaffold  and  reentered 
the  prison,  followed  by  the  under-sheriffs,  the  governor, 


THE  GIBBET 


179 


and  the  volunteer  hangman;  and,  the  clock  having  now 
struck  eight,  they  all  proceeded  to  the  condemned  cell,  where 
Dysart  and  the  chaplain  were  together. 

The  criminal,  fully  satisfied  that  his  reprieve  was  in  the 
sheriff's  pocket,  presented  an  aspect  of  firmness  and  bowed 
courteously  to  the  civic  authorities.  These  functionaries 
remained  in  the  passage  outside  the  door  of  the  cell,  which 
was  now  left  open,  and  the  sheriff,  addressing  himself  to 
the  chaplain,  said,    I  wish  to  speak  to  you  a  moment." 

The  ordinary  hastened  out  of  the  cell,  and  as  the  sheriff 
drew  him  aside  a  little  way  down  the  corridor,  Dysart  per- 
ceived that  he  drew  forth  from  his  pocket  a  despatch  of  the 
invariable  official  shape  and  bearing  a  large  seal. 

"  That  is  my  reprieve!  "  thought  Dysart,  and  the  flood 
of  life  circulated  with  a  more  rapid  flow  in  his  veins. 

Beg  pardon,  sir,"  said  the  volunteer  hangman,  producing 
his  whipcord  to  pinion  the  criminal's  arms;  then,  as  he  drew 
the  criminal  gently  aside  toward  the  farther  extremity  of 
the  cell,  he  hastily  whispered,  "  You've  nothing  to  fear,  Mr. 
Dysart.  The  sheriff  has  got  your  reprieve,  and  I  have  seen 
it." 

The  criminal  had  recoiled  loathingly  from  the  first  touch 
of  the  hangman,  and  the  more  so  on  account  of  his  repulsive 
look,  for  the  fellow's  face  was  black  as  that  of  a  negro;  but 
the  voice  instantaneously  sounded  familiar  to  Dysart's 
ear,  and  surveying  the  wretch's  countenance  attentively, 
he  recognized  through  the  soot  and  grime  that  covered  it  the 
features  of  Daniel  Coffin. 

Glancing  toward  the  door,  and  observing  that  no  one 
was  noticing  him  particularly  at  the  instant,  Dysart  gave 
the  Hangman  a  nod  of  recognition;  then,  in  a  scarcely 
audible  tone,  he  said,  "  You  have  positively  seen  the  re- 
prieve? " 

"  I  saw  the  sheriff  show  it  to  the  under-sheriffs,  and  even 
heard  him  read  the  private  instructions  on  the  margin,  re- 
turned Coffin,  in  an  equally  low  voice,  as  he  pinioned  the 
arms  of  the  criminal. 

"  And  those  instructions  —  what  are  they?  "  demanded 
Dysart,  with  nervous  impatience. 

"  That  the  reprieve  will  not  be  produced  till  the  moment 
the  drop  is  ready  to  fall,"  responded  the  Hangman.  "  So  you 
needn't  be  alarmed,  sir;  and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour 


180  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


you  will  find  yourself  safe  and  sound  back  in  this  cell 
again." 

You  are  a  good  fellow,  Coffin,  for  being  anxious  thus  to 
reassure  me,"  said  Dysart,  trembling  somewhat  with  excite- 
ment, but  not  from  actual  fear. 

"  You've  always  behaved  like  a  gentleman  to  me,  sir," 
replied  the  Hangman,  and  I  should  have  been  sorry 
indeed  to  tuck  you  up.  But  now's  the  time  to  move 
for'ard." 

Having  thus  spoken  in  a  hurried  whisper,  the  Hangman 
signified  aloud  to  the  governor  that  everything  was  ready, 
and  the  procession  was  formed.  The  chaplain  and  sheriff, 
who  had  remained  outside  together  conversing  in  the  passage, 
went  first.  Then  came  Dysart,  with  his  arms  pinioned,  and 
closely  followed  by  the  Hangman,  the  governor,  under- 
sheriffs,  aldermen,  and  a  few  of  the  gaol  officials  bringing  up 
the  rear. 

Along  two  or  three  stone  passages  did  the  mournful 
procession  advance;  and  now  the  toUing  of  St.  Sepulchre's 
bell  became  more  and  more  plainly  audible  to  the  ear.  Again 
did  a  sudden  terror  strike  to  the  very  heart's  core  of  the 
criminal.  Heavens!  if  the  reprieve,  the  assurances  that  had 
hitherto  sustained  him,  the  promise  of  life,  pardon,  and 
liberty,  —  O  God!  if  all  these  were  but  the  delusions  of  his 
brain,  the  phantoms  of  his  own  imagination!  That  knell 
which  rang  so  ominously,  the  solemn  tread  of  the  procession 
through  the  vaulted  passages,  the  murmuring  of  the  multi- 
tudes without,  and  now  the  deep  voice  of  the  chaplain 
commencing  the  service  for  the  dead,  —  oh,  what  could  all 
this  mean?  What  did  it  signify?  Wherefore  this  tremendous 
parade,  this  pomp  and  display  of  death  itself,  if  all  were 
to  end  in  a  continuance  of  life?  And  that  chaplain's  voice, 
did  it  breathe  an  accent  of  hope?  Oh,  no,  no!  It  was  pro- 
found, solemn,  even  sepulchral,  as  if  warning  him  in  unmis- 
takable tones  that  this  was  indeed  no  mockery,  but  an  awful, 
appalling,  stupendous  reality.  Yes,  there  was  death  in  all 
this,  —  death  —  death !  And  the  hideous  conviction  struck 
to  the  soul  of  Dysart  that  he  was  duped,  deluded,  deceived, 
—  ay,  unto  the  very  verge  of  that  grave  which  was  already 
yawning  at  his  feet. 

Such  were  the  thoughts  that  swept,  ghastly  as  a  train  of 
spectres  and  swift  as  a  flight  of  birds,  through  the  imagina- 


THE  GIBBET 


181 


tion  of  Dysart.  But  the  next  instant  his  presence  of  mind 
returned,  and  all  in  a  moment  did  he  marshal  and  review 
in  his  fancy  the  circumstances  that  were  favourable  to  him. 
The  governor  had  solemnly  affirmed  that  a  despatch  had 
arrived  from  the  Home  Office;  he  himself  had  seen  the 
sheriff  produce  this  despatch  in  order  to  display  it  to  the 
chaplain;  and  Daniel  Coffin  had  given  him  assurances 
relative  to  the  nature  of  its  contents.  It  must  be,  then,  a 
reprieve  —  it  could  be  nothing  else;  oh,  no,  it  could  be 
nothing  else! 

But  this  hideous  uncertainty,  —  the  agonies,  the  tortures, 
the  excruciations  of  a  thousand  racks  were  comprised  therein. 
Oh,  if  he  had  not  been  so  rash,  so  precipitate  in  trusting  to 
others!  If  he  had  accepted  the  alternative  of  the  three 
years'  imprisonment,  he  would  at  least  have  been  spared 
these  immitigable  horrors,  these  rending  agonies.  But  was 
it  too  late?  No;  he  would  tell  the  sheriff  and  the  governor 
everything,  —  how  his  wife  held  the  solemnly  recorded 
pledge  of  the  prince  regent,  how  the  compromise  of  three 
years'  imprisonment  had  been  offered  him,  and  how  he 
would  now  rather  accept  this  proposal  than  proceed  any 
farther  in  the  pathway  which  terminated  at  the  scaffold. 

But,  oh,  miserable  wretch  that  he  was,  his  tongue  clave 
to  the  roof  of  his  mouth,  he  could  not  speak,  he  felt  as  if 
burning  ashes  were  in  his  throat.  Horror  of  horrors!  what 
was  he  to  do?  Fleet  and  fast  did  his  thoughts  thus  travel 
through  his  brain.  Travel!  They  swept  along  quicker  than 
the  lightning.  A  whole  volume  would  not  contain  the  reflec- 
tions which  he  thus  made  in  the  time  that  his  feet  were  only 
taking  a  dozen  steps.  The  page  which  now  affords  a  succinct 
outline  of  those  thoughts  sinks  into  utter  insignificance 
when  compared  with  the  vast  folios  and  bulky  tomes  that 
these  ideas,  if  chronicled  at  length,  would  fill.  His  brain  was 
on  fire;  it  whirled,  whirled,  and  yet  he  could  not  give  utter- 
ance to  a  single  one  of  those  myriad  million  thoughts  that 
were  thus  sweeping,  dashing,  flying,  gushing,  tearing  through 
that  maddening  brain. 

And  now  the  breeze  suddenly  blows  more  freshly  upon  his 
countenance,  and  at  the  same  instant  his  eyes,  plunging 
through  the  opening  of  a  low  narrow  doorway,  recoil,  as  it 
were,  from  the  sinister  object  which  bursts  upon  them. 
For  he  is  now  traversing  the  little  kitchen  which  is  just 


182  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


inside  that  ominous-looking  door  whereon  no  eye  ever  fails 
to  Unger  a  moment  when  passing  along  the  front  of  New- 
gate. 

"  Courage!  "  whispers  a  voice  in  Dysart's  ear;  he  looks 
aside  for  an  instant,  and  beholds  the  blackened  countenance 
of  the  Hangman. 

Recalled  to  himself,  as  it  were,  from  a  hideous  dream  in 
which  he  appeared  to  have  been  walking,  Dysart  does 
summon  all  his  courage  to  his  aid;  and  fortunately  for  the 
complete  gathering  of  his  presence  of  mind  at  this  supreme 
moment,  he  observes  something  white  projecting  from  the 
sheriff's  pocket.  Ah!  it  is  the  reprieve,  —  the  reprieve 
which  he  has  placed  thus  handy,  so  that  it  may  be  drawn 
forth  in  a  moment.  After  all,  Dysart  feels  that  he  is  safe; 
and  he  ascends  the  steps  of  the  scaffold,  pinioned  and  trussed 
for  death,  with  the  conviction  that  he  shall  speedily  descend 
those  steps  again  to  enter  upon  a  new  lease  of  life. 

A  solemn  stillness  once  more  falls  upon  the  crowd,  and 
not  a  murmur  is  heard.  His  is  not  a  crime  which  calls  for 
the  expression  of  public  opinion  in  yells  and  execrations, 
and  therefore  not  a  reproachful  voice  is  heard,  not  an  abusive 
syllable  is  uttered. 

A  dimness  comes  upon  Dysart's  eyes;  he  closes  them 
hard,  then  opens  them  promptly  again,  and  his  sight  has 
now  a  horrible  clearness.  The  rapid  glance  which  he  flings 
right  and  left  shows  him  the  countless  myriads  of  human 
faces  all  turned  toward  that  black  funereal  eminence  on 
which  he  stands.  The  knell  of  St.  Sepulchre's  Church  falls 
like  a  sledge-hammer  upon  his  brain.  The  eyes  of  the 
multitudes  seem  to  pierce  him  through  and  through.  And 
these  are  his  sensations  during  the  first  quarter  of  a  min- 
ute that  he  stands  upon  the  scaffold;  but  then  in  that  quar- 
ter of  a  minute  are  concentrated  whole  ages  and  ages  of 
sense,  feeling,  faculty,  and  circumstance. 

He  is  now  recalled  to  a  livelier  and  keener  appreciation 
of  his  position  by  the  touch  of  the  Hangman,  who  never- 
theless agaiu  breathes  the  word  "  Courage  "  in  his  ear. 
He  strives  to  speak ;  but  at  the  instant  his  lips  are  wavering, 
the  halter  circles  his  neck.  A  shriek  rises  to  the  very  tip  of 
his  tongue,  but  it  is  stifled  by  the  sudden  drawing  down  of 
the  nightcap  over  his  face.  Then  the  fingers  of  the  Hangman 
are  Hfted  from  him,  and  he  hears  the  wretch  hasten  away, 


THE  GIBBET 


183 


his  heavy  feet  stamping  upon  the  hollow  platform  and  then 
rushing  down  the  ladder. 

For  never,  never  were  all  Dysart's  faculties  and  organs  of 
sense  so  acute  as  upon  the  present  occasion;  his  very  looks 
can  penetrate  dimly  through  the  cotton  nightcap  drawn 
over  his  face. 

But  ah!  the  sudden  sound  as  of  a  bolt  touched  beneath 
his  feet  came  thrilUng  up  to  his  ear;  and  now  again  —  but  oh, 
with  what  an  overwhelming  force !  —  struck  upon  his  soul 
the  conviction  that  he  was  betrayed.  Yes,  now  'twas  sure, 
certain,  beyond  all  doubt.  O  horror,  horror  I  horror  of 
horrors!  he  was  there  on  the  drop  —  'twas  giving  way 
beneath  his  feet  —  " 

It  fell!  The  blood  gushed  upward  Hke  hghtning  into  his 
brain,  strong  spasms  convulsed  him,  and  in  a  few  moments 
he  hung  a  Hfeless  corpse. 

The  aristocratic  party  at  the  windows  opposite  remained 
until  nine  o'clock,  when  the  body  was  cut  down.  They  then 
returned  to  the  Saracen's  Head,  paid  the  bill  hberally,  and 
took  their  departure  in  the  Earl  of  Curzon's  carriage  toward 
the  West  End. 

But  in  the  meantime  the  governor  of  Newgate  was  enter- 
taining the  sheriff,  the  under-sheriffs,  and  the  chaplain  at 
breakfast,  according  to  the  custom  which  prevailed  in  those 
times  relative  to  the  mornings  of  pubhc  execution. 

Poor  Lady  Ernestina!  "  said  the  governor,  "  she  will 
be  dreadfully  cut  up.  She  all  along  made  sure  of  her  husband 
being  reprieved;  and  when  she  left  him  last  evening  she 
expressed  her  conviction  that  she  should  meet  him  again 
to-day.  From  what  she  condescended  to  tell  me,  I  also 
made  certain  that  the  extreme  sentence  would  never  be 
carried  out." 

"  Such  also  was  my  opinion,"  observed  the  chaplain.  "  In 
fact,  when  you,  sir,"  —  addressing  himself  to  the  sheriff,  — 
"  called  me  out  of  the  prisoner's  cell  and  produced  that  paper 
from  your  pocket,  I  made  sure  that  it  was  the  reprieve. 
You  might  have  observed  how  startled  I  was  when  I  looked 
over  its  contents." 

I  did  not  pay  particular  notice,"  said  the  sheriff,  with  an 
air  of  indifference,  as  he  ate  his  muffin.  "  But,  by  the  bye, 
you  did  not  see  it,"  he  observed,  turning  toward  the  governor 
and  the  under-sheriffs. 


184  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Thus  speaking,  he  tossed  the  paper  across  the  table;  and 
the  individuals  to  whom  he  had  last  addressed  himself 
hastened  to  make  themselves  acquainted  with  its  con- 
tents. 

It  ran  as  follows: 

Home  Office,  Saturday  evening,  Oct.  20. 

"  Sir:  —  I  am  desired  by  the  secretary  of  state  to  direct 
your  attention  to  the  demoraUzing  effect  of  capital  criminals 
addressing  observations  from  the  scaffold  to  the  assembled 
crowd;  and  it  is  requisite  that  this  display,  which  has  been 
much  too  common  of  late,  should  be  prevented.  I  have 
therefore  to  request  that  henceforth  the  scene  outside  the 
gaol  of  Newgate,  on  the  occasion  of  a  pubhc  execution,  shall 
be  abbreviated  as  much  as  possible;  and  I  have  further  to 
desire  that  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  communicate  this 
letter  to  the  reverend  ordinary  of  Newgate. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  remain,  etc. 

"  To  the  Sheriff  of  London." 

This  despatch  was  duly  signed  by  the  under-secretary  of 
state  for  the  Home  Department.  The  governor,  on  reading 
it,  exchanged  significant  glances  with  the  chaplain,  as  much 
as  to  imply  their  regret  at  having  been  led  by  circum- 
stances to  buoy  up  Dysart  with  the  hope  of  a  reprieve  until 
nearly  the  last  minute;  but  they  nevertheless  kept  the 
matter  scrupulously  secret  in  their  own  breasts.  Nor  did  the 
governor  entertain  the  slightest  suspicion  that  he  had  all 
along  been  made  a  tool  in  the  hands  of  Lady  Ernestina 
Dysart,  in  thus  lulling  her  husband  into  a  false  security. 


CHAPTER  XVII 


THE  PREFECTURE  OF  POLICE 

A  MONTH  had  now  elapsed  since  Jocelyn  Loftus  was  so 
suddenly  consigned  to  a  mysterious  imprisonment  in  Paris, 
on  the  ground  of  some  defect  or  error  of  nomenclature  in  his 
passport;  and  it  will  be  remembered  that  he  was  thus 
held  captive,  by  order  of  the  prefect  of  police,  at  the  mansion 
of  the  prefecture  itself. 

The  room  to  which  he  was  conducted  has  already  been 
described  as  small  and  indifferently  appointed.  A  tent- 
bedstead  in  an  alcove,  or  recess,  a  table,  a  couple  of  chairs, 
a  washing-stand,  and  two  or  three  other  necessaries,  con- 
stituted the  furniture.  There  were  two  windows,  each  well 
protected  with  iron  bars,  and  looking  down  into  a  gloomy 
courtyard  surrounded  with  the  high  walls  belonging  to  other 
portions  of  the  same  building,  so  that  escape  in  that  quarter 
appeared  to  be  impossible.  The  door  was  massive  and 
studded  with  large  iron  nails;  bolts  had  creaked  and  chains 
had  rattled  outside  when  it  was  closed  upon  the  prisoner;  ♦ 
and  indeed  every  circumstance  but  too  plainly  indicated 
that  this  was  in  all  respects  a  prison-chamber.  Let  us  add 
that  it  was  on  the  first  story  and  was  approached  by  a  long 
dark  corridor,  in  which  Jocelyn  was  occasionally  allowed 
to  walk,  and  our  description  is  as  complete  as  the  purposes 
of  the  narrative  require. 

We  stated  that  while  Jocelyn  was  being  conveyed  in  the 
hackney-coach  to  the  prefecture  of  police,  his  own  conjectures 
furnished  him  with  some  faint  glimmering  of  the  real  truth 
as  to  the  cause  of  his  arrest.  The  brief  examination  he  had 
undergone  before  the  prefect  himself  confirmed  those  sus- 
picions which  he  had  already  entertained;  nor  had  he  much 
difficulty  in  divining  who  was  the  real  author  of  his  present 

185 


186  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


imprisonment.  He  therefore  now  blamed  himself  bitterly 
for  having  rushed  so  precipitately  on  the  enterprise  with 
the  name  of  Jocelyn  Loftus. 

But  now  let  us  specially  note  the  incidents  of  his  first  day's 
incarceration.  At  about  one  o'clock  a  domestic  in  the 
prefect's  livery  brought  in  a  tray  furnished  with  copious 
materials  for  a  succulent  repast,  but  it  may  be  well  under- 
stood that  Jocelyn  was  in  no  particular  humour  to  partake 
of  it.  The  man,  without  being  precisely  stern-looking, 
was  evidently  of  a  cold  and  reserved  disposition,  a  character 
well  suited  for  such  a  place  as  the  prefecture  and  such 
functions  as  those  which  he  had  to  fulfil.  Jocelyn  did  not 
question  him;  for,  in  the  first  place,  he  was  tolerably  well 
convinced  that  this  menial  could  know  nothing  of  the 
secrets  regarding  his  captivity,  and,  secondly,  even  if  he  did, 
he  was  still  more  certain  not  to  betray  them. 

Before  quitting  the  room,  the  domestic  said,  in  a  tone  that 
was  coldly  polite,  I  am  commanded,  sir,  to  wait  upon  you 
with  your  meals  three  times  a  day,  and  on  each  occasion 
whatever  orders  you  may  wish  to  give  shall  be  obeyed,  con- 
sistently with  the  regulations  of  the  place.  Books  and 
writing  materials  you  can  have  —  " 

Yes,  bring  me  books  and  writing  materials,"  exclaimed 
Jocelyn,  to  whom  it  was  at  least  some  consolation  to  per- 
ceive that  he  was  not  to  be  treated  with  any  extraordinary 
degree  of  severity. 

The  domestic  retired,  and  shortly  afterward  reappeared, 
bringing  with  him  a  large  parcel  of  books  and  an  ample 
supply  of  writing  materials;  but  as  he  deposited  them  in 
the  recess  of  one  of  the  deep-set  windows,  he  remarked, 

You  are  at  liberty,  sir,  to  write  as  much  as  you  choose 
within  these  walls,  but  I  must  beg  you  to  understand  that 
not  a  scrap  of  paper  can  pass  hence  without  being  previously 
examined  by  his  Excellency  the  prefect. 

Having  thus  spoken,  the  man  again  departed,  carefully 
locking  and  bolting  the  door  behind  him;  and  when  once 
more  alone,  Loftus  began  to  examine  the  books  which  had 
been  brought  him.  They  belonged  to  almost  every  branch 
of  literature,  —  novels,  poetry,  travels,  voyages,  history,  poli- 
tics, science,  and  art;  but  he  started  back  in  sudden  dismay 
from  this  perfect  cyclopedia  of  amusement  and  instruction, 
for  the  thought  flashed  to  his  mind  that  here  was  indeed 


THE  PREFECTURE  OF  POLICE  187 


enough  reading  to  while  away  the  time  of  a  twelvemonths' 
imprisonment.  The  next  moment,  however,  he  felt  angry 
with  himself  for  having  allowed  the  incident  to  operate 
as  an  omen  or  a  presage;  and  he  murmured,  half-aloud, 
The  domestic  who  brought  those  books  could  not  possibly 
be  aware  whether  my  captivity  is  destined  to  last  days 
or  years.'* 

Then,  with  characteristic  courage,  Loftus  conjured  up 
every  possible  reflection  of  a  soothing,  hopeful,  or  consolatory 
nature. 

In  the  evening  the  domestic  reappeared  with  the  prisoner's 
supper,  which  also  consisted  of  several  dishes  and  a  liberal 
supply  of  wine.  Candles  were  furnished  without  restriction 
as  to  the  period  of  their  use,  so  that  Loftus  could  burn  them 
throughout  the  night  if  he  felt  disposed.  In  the  morning 
the  breakfast  that  was  served  up  to  him  was  as  copious  as 
the  other  meals;  and  when  he  had  partaken  of  the  repast, 
an  old  woman  was  introduced  by  the  domestic  to  make  the 
bed  and  sweep  out  the  room,  during  which  process  Jocelyn 
was  permitted  to  walk  up  and  down  the  long  dark  passage 
outside. 

We  have  now  afforded  an  idea  of  the  routine  of  Jocelyn's 
first  day  at  the  prefecture,  and  thence  an  estimate  may  be 
drawn  of  the  monotonous  nature  of  his  imprisonment  during 
the  month  which  we  must  suppose  to  have  elapsed  since  the 
date  of  his  arrest.  It  will,  however,  be  seen  that  he  was 
treated  at  the  prefecture  of  police  with  as  much  consideration 
as  was  compatible  with  the  circumstances  of  personal  re- 
straint. But  was  he  happy?  Far,  very  far  from  that!  His 
natural  courage,  noble  fortitude,  and  elevated  spirit  enabled 
him  to  bear  up  as  well  as  the  most  heroic  of  men  could  do 
against  the  misfortune  which  had  overtaken  him,  but  still 
there  were  moments  when  he  could  scarcely  restrain  an 
outburst  of  bitter  anguish  as  he  thought  of  his  much-loved 
and  far-off  Louisa.  What  could  she  think  of  a  silence  so 
unaccountable  and  an  absence  so  prolonged?  Must  she  not 
either  believe  him  false,  or  else  that  some  terrible  calamity 
had  befallen  him?  In  either  case,  he  pictured  to  himself  all 
the  anguish  which  that  charming  creature  was  thus  doomed 
to  endure;  and  it  went  to  his  soul  to  reflect  that  so  young, 
so  lovely,  and  so  affectionate  a  being  should  be  plunged 
into  such  deep  distress. 


188  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


On  several  occasions  he  had  written  a  letter  to  the  prefect, 
beseeching  that  any  correspondence  which  should  have 
arrived  for  him  at  Meurice's  Hotel  or  at  the  general  post- 
office  of  Paris  might  be  given  up  to  him;  but  the  verbal 
answer  which  the  reserved  domestic  invariably  brought  back 
was  to  the  effect  "  that  no  communications  had  been  re- 
ceived at  all,  at  either  place,  addressed  to  Mr.  Jocelyn 
Loftus." 

These  announcements  the  young  gentleman  knew  full 
well  to  be  false,  for  he  was  convinced  that  Louisa  would 
have  unweariedly  and  incessantly  written  letter  after  letter, 
craving,  imploring,  and  beseeching  a  response;  and  it  was 
therefore  with  as  much  bitterness  of  spirit  as  indignation 
of  feeling  that  Loftus  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  same 
arbitrary  police  power  which  had  violated  the  sanctity  of 
his  private  papers  on  the  day  of  his  arrest  had  likewise  taken 
possession  of  all  correspondence  that  had  subsequently 
arrived  for  him  from  England. 

Our  young  hero's  state  of  mind  was  not,  therefore,  very 
felicitous;  and  a  month  had  thus  passed  in  deep  uncertain- 
ties, varying  excitements,  and  perplexing  anxieties. 

One  night  Jocelyn  had  retired  to  rest  earher  than  usual, 
for  his  health  had  begun  to  fail  him  in  the  close  captivity 
of  that  chamber,  and^  moreover,  he  had  been  giving  way 
with  a  very  painful  intensity  to  the  poignancy  of  his  thoughts 
during  the  evening.  The  clocks  in  the  thousand  towers  of 
the  sovereign  city  of  France  were  proclaiming  the  hour  of 
nine  when,  having  extinguished  the  light,  Jocelyn  thus 
sought  his  couch,  exhausted  alike  in  mind  and  body.  A 
deep  slumber  fell  upon  him,  and  he  was  gradually  borne 
into  the  Elysian  mazes  of  a  delicious  dream. 

He  fancied  that  he  was  sleeping  on  a  splendid  sofa  in  a 
magnificently  furnished  apartment;  he  thought  he  saw 
himself  thus  reclining  full  dressed,  as  if  it  were  in  the  day- 
time that  he  had  lain  down  in  this  manner  to  rest  for  a  short 
while.  The  saloon  to  which  imagination  had  thus  wafted 
him  was  flooded  with  a  golden  light,  —  a  more  than  earthly 
radiance  that  penetrated  throughout,  a  celestial  lustre 
that  rendered  each  nook  and  corner  as  clear  and  shadow- 
less as  the  centre  of  the  room  itself.  And  now,  in  the 
midst  of  that  transcendent  glow,  it  appeared  to  Jocelyn 
as  if  angels  were  passing  through  the  ambrosial  air,  beauteous 


THE  PREFECTURE  OF  POLICE  189 


forms  displaying  a  lithe  and  slender  symmetry  in  the 
scant  azure  drapery  that  floated  with  the  grace  which  no 
sculptural  skill  could  ever  illustrate  in  the  massive  marble. 
Some  of  these  empyrean  beings  were  crowned  with  stars; 
others  bore  lutes  which  seemed  to  send  forth  a  delicious 
music,  realizing  the  sweet  superstition  of  the  harmony  of 
the  spheres;  while  others,  again,  carried  garlands  of  flowers 
in  their  hands,  or  scattered  wreaths  and  posies  through  the 
translucent  atmosphere.  But  as  the  celestial  train  swept 
past,  every  angelic  countenance  was  bent  with  an  expression 
of  sweet  encouragement  and  smiling  hopefulness  upon  the 
sleeping  form  of  Jocelyn;  and  as  he  slowly  awoke  from  this 
deUcious  dream,  while  the  glory  of  the  vision  itself  faded 
slowly  and  gradually  away  from  his  mental  perception,  he 
could  not  help  thinking  that  it  was  an  intimation  sent  from 
Heaven  to  cheer  his  soul. 

While  in  the  fervour  of  his  grateful  piety  he  was  silently 
breathing  a  prayer  to  his  Maker,  he  was  suddenly  startled 
by  a  singular  noise  which  seemed  to  come  from  within  the 
wainscoting  of  the  alcove  or  recess  that  contained  the  couch 
whereon  he  lay.  He  listened;  the  noise  ceased.  He  con- 
cluded that  he  had  been  mistaken,  and  he  endeavoured  to 
compose  himself  to  slumber  again.  But  just  as  his  eyelids 
were  closing  beneath  the  batlike  wing  of  drowsiness,  that 
strange  sound  was  repeated. 

He  started  up,  held  his  breath,  and  listened  more  atten- 
tively than  at  first.  The  noise  was  like  that  of  some  one 
endeavouring  to  pierce  through  the  masonry  by  means  of 
an  instrument  that  worked  tediously  in  a  stealthy,  scraping 
manner,  rather  than  with  a  boldness  which  cared  not  for 
discovery.  The  thought  instantly  struck  Jocelyn  that  some 
prisoner  in  the  next  apartment  was  endeavouring  to  escape; 
and  this  idea  thrilled  with  a  sensation  of  joy  to  his  heart,  for 
the  same  means  which  could  afford  the  hope  of  flight  to  a 
fellow  captive  would  avail  also  for  himself. 

The  noise  continued,  and  Jocelyn  was  on  the  point  of 
knocking  gently  in  order  to  lead  the  individual,  whoever  it 
might  be,  into  conversation,  supposing  that  a  sufficient  depth 
of  excavation  in  the  wall  had  been  made  to  render  their  voices 
audible  to  each  other;  but  the  young  gentleman  checked 
himself  and  paused  to  reflect  ere  he  took  any  step  whatsoever 
in  the  matter.   Once  more  reposing  his  head  upon  his  pillow. 


190 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


but  still  listening  attentively,  he  reasoned  in  the  following 
strain : 

If  this  be  some  fellow  captive  who  is  endeavouring  to 
make  his  escape,  he  may  perchance  have  been  led  to  believe 
that  the  wall  through  which  he  is  boring  opens  either  into  an 
empty  room  or  an  unfrequented  passage,  or  even  perhaps 
into  some  courtyard  or  actual  outlet.  Such  may  be  his  im- 
pression; and  therefore  if  I  disturb  him  in  the  midst  of  his 
labours  he  may  become  alarmed  and  desist.  It  will  be  better 
for  me  to  allow  him  to  proceed  so  far  with  his  work  that  he 
will  ascertain  for  himself  into  what  place  he  is  penetrating, 
and  then  it  will  be  time  enough  to  make  known  to  him  the 
presence  of  a  fellow  prisoner  in  this  room,  supposing  that  he 
is  now  unaware  of  its  being  tenanted." 

Having  come  to  this  conclusion,  Jocelyn  Loftus  did  not 
attempt  to  make  himself  heard  by  his  neighbour;  but  he 
nevertheless  continued  an  attentive  listener  to  the  work 
that  was  going  on.  The  longer  he  thus  listened  the  more 
convinced  he  became  that  his  first  conjecture  was  well 
founded,  and  that  it  was  indeed  some  fellow  prisoner  stealth- 
ily pursuing  the  means  which  he  hoped  would  lead  to  escape. 
For  two  hours  did  the  work  thus  continue,  and  by  following 
it  minutely  with  his  ears,  the  young  gentleman  was  enabled 
to  comprehend  its  details.  Thus  was  it  that  he  could  dis- 
tinguish when  pieces  of  mortar  were  removed  or  portions  of 
masonry  detached  and  taken  out  of  the  excavation;  and  at 
the  expiration  of  those  two  hours  he  heard  his  neighbour 
replacing  all  the  mortar,  stones,  and  bricks  in  the  hollow 
thus  made  between  the  wainscot,  doubtless  to  conceal  the 
night's  work  from  the  eyes  of  the  morning's  visitors. 

All  was  now  still;  but  Jocelyn  could  not  again  very 
speedily  settle  himself  to  slumber,  for  an  incident  had  thus 
arisen  not  only  to  break  the  hitherto  monotonous  routine 
of  his  imprisonment,  but  also  to  excite  sudden  and  fervid 
hopes  of  escape. 

Nevertheless,  after  awhile  sleep  once  more  revisited  his 
eyes,  and  when  he  awoke  in  the  morning  it  was  some  time 
before  he  could  persuade  himself  that  the  occurrence  of  the 
past  night  was  not  part  and  parcel  —  although  perhaps 
another  phase  —  of  that  dream  which  had  visited  him  soon 
after  he  had  retired  to  rest. 

Having  risen  from  his  couch  and  dressed  himself,  Jocelyn 


THE  PREFECTURE  OF  POLICE  191 


awaited  the  arrival  of  the  serious-looking  domestic;  and 
when  that  individual  made  his  appearance  at  nine  o'clock 
with  the  breakfast-tray,  the  young  gentleman  inquired,  with 
an  apparent  air  of  indifference,  whether  there  were  many 
other  prisoners  in  the  prefecture. 

I  do  not  know,  sir,"  was  the  laconic  answer;  and  Jocelyn 
felt  annoyed  within  himself  for  having  condescended  to  even 
so  slight  an  attempt  to  gratify  his  curiosit}^  through  the 
medium  of  his  reserved  and  flinty-hearted  jailor. 

After  breakfast,  the  Uvery  servant  returned,  accompanied, 
as  usual  at  this  hour,  by  the  old  charwoman;  and  while 
she  was  occupied  in  putting  the  room  to  rights,  Loftus 
walked,  as  was  his  wont,  in  the  adjacent  corridor.  This  pas- 
sage has  already  been  described  as  long,  dark,  and  gloomy; 
it  had  a  door  at  the  end  communicating  with  the  staircase, 
and  from  the  side  opened  at  least  a  dozen  doors  into  no 
doubt  as  many  prison-chambers.  While  walking  in  this 
passage  on  the  present  occasion,  Loftus  paused  at  the  door 
of  the  room  next  to  his  own,  and  listened  to  hear  if  he  could 
catch  any  sound,  but  all  was  still. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  old  woman  appeared  upon  the  thresh- 
old of  his  apartment,  with  the  intimation  that  she  had 
finished  her  avocations  therein.  This  was  a  signal  for  him 
to  return  to  its  solitude;  and  as  he  did  so,  the  old  crone 
hastily  and  furtively  slipped  a  note  into  his  hand.  He 
clutched  it  tight  —  oh,  as  tightly  as  the  rope  is  clutched  that 
is  thrown  out  to  the  shipwrecked  mariner  struggling  in  the 
waves  amidst  the  boiling  surges  of  an  infuriate  ocean.  The 
old  woman  hurried  onward,  and  the  serious-looking  domestic, 
who  had  been  lounging  at  the  end  of  the  dark  passage,  now 
came  to  close  the  door  upon  our  hero  once  more. 

The  instant  that  Jocelyn  was  again  alone  he  hastened  to 
examine  the  note  that  had  so  strangely  been  given  to  him. 
It  was  not  addressed  to  any  one;  it  was  not  sealed,  but  merely 
folded  up  into  a  small  compass,  and  its  contents,  which  were 
written  in  a  beautiful  female  hand,  and  in  the  English 
language,  were  as  follows: 

"  Fellow  Prisoner:  —  If  you  value  your  liberty  and  are 
desirous  to  escape  from  this  dreadful  place,  lend  your 
assistance  to  one  who  is  already  working  to  the  same  end. 
Be  not  alarmed,  therefore,  at  any  unusual  noise  which  you 


192  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


may  hear  or  at  any  strange  occurrence  that  may  take  place 
during  the  coming  night,  but  be  in  readiness  to  fulfill  any 
instructions  that  you  may  receive.  I  am  told  that  you  are 
an  Englishman,  and  you  will  see  by  this  that  it  is  a  fellow 
countrywoman  who  thus  addresses  you." 

The  astonishment  of  Loftus  at  thus  discovering  that  his 
bold  and  venturous  neighbour  was  a  female  may  be  more 
readily  conceived  than  described.  Yes,  and  by  her  writing 
she  was  evidently  a  lady  of  good  education.  That  the  old 
charwoman  was  an  accomplice  in  her  project  of  escape  was 
evident  enough;  but  how  this  lady  could  hope  to  effect 
this  escape  by  simply  passing  from  one  room  into  another, 
Jocelyn  was  at  a  loss  to  imagine.  However,  that  some 
explanation  would  take  place  during  the  next  night  ap- 
peared tolerably  evident,  the  lady  having  no  doubt  been 
enabled  to  calculate  that  it  only  required  a  Httle  more  labour 
to  pierce  entirely  through  the  massive  partition  wall. 

Slow  and  tardy  as  the  time  ever  passes  to  persons  in 
captivity,  yet  this  was  the  slowest  and  most  tardily  hngering 
day  that  Jocelyn  had  yet  known  in  the  prefecture  of  poUce. 
He  thought  the  evening  would  never  come;  but  when  at 
last  the  sombre  shades  of  twiHght  obscured  his  chamber, 
he  even  then  calculated  with  considerable  impatience  that 
it  yet  wanted  several  hours  of  midnight.  However,  as  nearly 
everything  must  have  an  end  sooner  or  later,  so  did  this 
wearisome  day  terminate  at  last.  Nine  o'clock  struck,  the 
serious-looking  domestic,  having  brought  in  the  supper-tray, 
retired  with  his  wonted  coldly  courteous  "  Good  night," 
and  now  Loftus  felt  that  he  was  free  from  any  further  in- 
terruption on  the  part  of  his  crabbed  janitor. 

Candles  had  been  lighted  some  time;  he  endeavoured  to 
read,  but  could  not  settle  his  mind  to  any  one  subject  of  all 
the  departments  of  literature  contained  in  the  books  at  his 
disposal.  He  therefore  rose  from  his  chair  and  paced  the 
room  in  an  agitated  manner;  then  he  sat  down  again  and 
perused  for  the  hundredth  time  that  day  the  mysterious 
note  which  he  had  received  in  the  morning. 

Yes,  it  was  indeed  a  beautiful  handwriting,  fluent,  clear, 
and  dehcate  as  that  of  an  educated  Enghshwoman.  But, 
ah !  if  it  had  only  been  the  writing  of  his  Louisa,  what  trans- 
ports of  happiness  would  he  now  have  enjoyed!  However, 


THE  PREFECTURE  OF  POLICE  193 


if  the  present  adventure  upon  which  his  neighbour  had 
embarked,  and  in  which  he  himself  was  about  to  participate, 
if  this  adventure,  we  say,  should  end  in  the  accompUshment 
of  an  escape,  then,  within  a  very  few  days,  might  he  fold  in 
his  arms  that  beloved  Louisa  whose  image  was  ever  upper- 
most in  his  mind,  and  on  whose  behalf  he  experienced  so 
much  anxiety. 

The  clocks  had  struck  eleven  some  time  when  Jocelyn  sud- 
denly became  aware  that  the  sounds  of  the  previous  night 
were  recommencing  in  the  wall  of  the  alcove.  He  threw  him- 
self upon  the  bed,  appUed  his  ear  to  the  wainscot,  and  hstened 
attentively.  Yes,  his  adventurous  neighbour  was  evidently 
taking  out  all  the  loosened  mortar  and  masonry  from  the 
aperture ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  he  was  satisfied  that  she  was 
continuing  the  process  of  perforation  by  whatsoever  instru- 
ment it  was  that  she  used.  Jocelyn  continued  to  listen  with 
breathless  attention,  until  presently  he  heard  the  instrument 
itself  come  in  contact  with  the  wainscot  to  which  his  ear 
was  applied.  Then  suddenly  all  was  still. 

Is  that  woodwork?  "  suddenly  inquired  a  soft  female 
voice  from  the  other  side. 

Jocelyn  answered  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Then  if  you  are  indeed  anxious  to  escape,"  resumed 
that  same  musical  voice,  or  if  you  will,  at  all  events,  assist 
me  to  escape,  you  must  contrive  to  remove  a  portion  of  the 
wainscot." 

Jocelyn  at  once  gave  the  lady  such  assurances  that  must 
have  satisfied  her  both  as  to  his  own  desire  for  self-emanci- 
pation and  his  readiness  to  succour  all  her  heroic  attempts. 
He  then '  drew  forth  the  bedstead  from  the  alcove,  and  by 
means  of  the  knife  which  had  been  left  with  his  supper-tray, 
he  speedily  loosened  a  panel  of  the  woodwork  and  lifted 
it  from  its  setting.  He  now  perceived  that  an  excavation 
had  been  made  of  nearly  two  feet  square  through  a  wall 
upwards  of  a  foot  thick. 

"  Take  all  these  implements  —  haste!  —  quick!  "  said  the 
lady  in  the  adjoining  room;  and  as  she  thus  spoke 
impatiently,  but  with  the  rich  melody  of  youthfulness 
in  her  voice,  she  thrust  several  articles  through  the 
opening. 

These  consisted  of  a  ladder  made  of  twisted  silk  and  pieces 
of  fire-wood,  two  or  three  files,  a  bottle  containing  a  yellow 


194  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


fluid,  three  or  four  skeleton  keys,  and  a  very  diminutive 
crowbar,  the  whitened  end  of  which  showed  that  it  had  been 
the  instrument  principally  used  for  making  the  opening  in 
the  wall.  The  articles  were  speedily  taken  charge  of  by 
Jocelyn;  and  the  appearance  thereof  instantaneously  con- 
firmed his  former  suspicion  that  an  escape  was  to  be  at- 
tempted that  night.  But  he  had  httle  leisure  for  reflection, 
inasmuch  as  everything  was  now  haste,  bustle,  and  im- 
patience with  the  heroic  lady.  Indeed,  no  sooner  had  he 
removed  the  above-mentioned  articles  from  the  opening 
through  which  she  had  thrust  them,  than  in  the  hurried  but 
harmonious  accents  of  her  voice  she  said,  Now  help  me  to 
pass  into  your  chamber." 

At  the  same  time  a  pair  of  well-rounded,  plump  and  snow- 
white  arms  were  thrust  through  the  aperture;  immediately 
afterward  came  a  head  covered  with  a  thick  black  veil, 
followed  by  a  bust  whose  proportions  were  fraught  with  all 
the  first  freshness  of  youth.  In  fine,  our  hero,  taking  hold 
of  the  lady's  arms,  assisted  her  as  well  and  as  deUcately  as 
he  was  able  to  pass  her  entire  form  through  the  opening. 

When  this  was  done  and  the  heroine  of  the  adventure, 
being  raised  upon  her  feet,  stood  before  Jocelyn,  the  rapid 
glance  which  he  threw  upon  her  naturally  expressed  a  certain 
amount  of  curiosity.  He  observed  that  she  was  of  the  middle 
height,  with  a  form  of  youthful  appearance,  perfectly  sym- 
metrical in  shape  and  characterized  by  much  ladylike 
elegance.  But  her  head,  as  already  stated,  was  closely 
enveloped  in  a  thick  black  veil;  and  although  she  could  no 
doubt  see  perfectly  well  from  behind  the  invidious  screen, 
yet  it  was  not  equally  easy  for  the  eyes  of  an  observer  to 
penetrate  through  to  her  own  countenance.  That  she  studied 
Jocelyn  earnestly  and  attentively  for  several  moments,  he 
could  judge  from  the  steadiness  with  which  her  veiled 
countenance  was  fixed  toward  him;  but  on  his  side  he  could 
positively  distinguish  neither  trait  nor  lineament  of  her 
countenance  at  all.  We  should  add  that  the  dark  veil,  two 
or  three  times  folded,  was  not  merely  thrown  loosely  over 
her  head,  but  was  tied  in  such  a  way  around  her  neck  that 
it  served  as  a  perfect  mask  and  was  not  hable  to  be  dis- 
placed by  any  motion  or  gesture  on  her  part. 

You  are  doubtless  astonished  to  see  my  countenance 
thus  veiled?  "  said  the  lady,  in  the  softest  and  most  melting 


THE  PREFECTURE  OF  POLICE  195 


tones  of  her  musical  voice;  but  it  is  in  consequence  of  a 
solemn  vow  which  I  have  made." 

A  vow?  "  exclaimed  Loftus,  in  astonishment,  and  almost 
with  an  accent  of  incredulity  and  suspicion. 

Yes,  it  is  a  vow,"  answered  the  lady,  with  a  certain 
dignity  in  her  tone  and  a  drawing  up  of  her  form  as  if  she 
resented  the  incredulous  manner  of  our  hero,  "  a  vow  rashly 
and  precipitately  made,  it  is  true,  a  vow  pledged  in  the 
moment  of  despair,  but  to  which  I  am  not  the  less  bound 
to  pay  implicit  devotion." 

"  But  wherefore  so  singular  a  vow?  "  inquired  Jocelyn, 
now  fancying  that  if  the  lady  were  not  some  adventuress,  she 
was  probably  of  unsettled  intellects. 

"  You  think  that  I  am  mad?  "  she  said,  thus  evidently 
penetrating  his  thoughts  once  more,  but  now  speaking  in  a 
milder  and  more  mournful  tone.  "  It  would  be  perhaps  a 
blessing  for  one  so  profoundly  acquainted  with  sorrow  as  I 
am  to  sink  into  the  oblivion  of  a  benighted  intellect,  or  be- 
come a  prey  to  the  fanciful  vagaries  of  dreams.  But,  alas! 
alas!  life  has  already  been  and  still  is  too  stern  a  reality 
for  me.  Under  such  circumstances,  and  considering  the 
absolute  necessity  which  exists  for  me  to  give  you  some 
explanation,  so  as  to  convince  you  that  you  are  not  em- 
barking in  this  night's  enterprise  with  either  an  adventuress 
imprisoned  for  wrong-doing,  or  a  mad  woman  confined  on 
account  of  her  malady,  for  these  reasons,  I  say,  you  will  not 
deem  me  vain  or  frivolous  in  declaring  that  it  is  the  beauty 
of  this  now  veiled  countenance  which  has  been  the  cause 
of  all  my  misfortunes.  Yes,  that  beauty  which,  I  solemnly 
declare,  I  myself  value  not,  has  rendered  me  the  object  of 
persecution  and  even  of  vengeance  on  the  part  of  a  host  of 
great,  noble,  and  powerful  admirers  to  whose  honeyed  words 
I  would  not  listen.  Being  my  own  mistress,  or  I  should  rather 
say,  being  a  friendless  Enghshwoman,  thus  tormented  by  a 
hornet's  nest  of  French  princes,  dukes,  marquises,  counts, 
viscounts,  and  barons,  —  ay,  and  by  even  the  very  prefect 
himself,"  she  added,  with  a  bitter  significancy  of  tone  and 
with  a  gesture  of  deep  meaning,  "  I  have  passed  through 
an  ordeal  —  " 

''Ah!  then  it  is  because  you  would  not  listen  to  the  over- 
tures of  all  those  great  personages,  but  the  prefect  espe- 
cially," exclaimed  Loftus,  now  believing  the  tale  and  becom- 


196  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


ing  indignant  at  the  outrage  thus  offered  to  a  lady  and  a 
countrywoman,  "  it  is  for  all  this,  I  presume,  that  you  have 
been  imprisoned  here?  " 

"  Such  is  indeed  the  truth,"  answered  the  lady.  And 
now  can  you  wonder  if,  when  snatched  from  my  home  and 
brought  a  prisoner  hither  three  weeks  ago,  I  should  in  my 
rage,  my  fury,  and  my  despair,  have  made  a  vow  to  the  effect 
that  never,  never  again  will  I  reveal  my  countenance  to  a 
being  in  the  form  of  man!  No,  never,  never,"  she  exclaimed, 
with  a  sort  of  frenzied  petulance,  "  until  I  encounter  some 
one  who  shall  have  learned  to  love  me,  not  for  the  beauty 
of  my  countenance,  or  the  magnitude  of  my  fortune,  but  for 
those  gentle,  endearing,  and  more  sterling  qualities  which 
as  a  woman  I  possess.  Now,  therefore,"  she  added,  with  the 
hurried  tone  of  one  who  was  well  pleased  at  having  finished 
a  most  painful  explanation,"  now,  therefore,  let  us  to  work, 
and  endeavour  to  ensure  our  escape." 

"  That  is,  after  all,  the  essential  point,"  said  Jocelyn,  not 
thinking  it  worth  while  to  trouble  himself  further  concern- 
ing the  eccentric  lady's  history,  as  every  instant  that  was 
lost  in  the  gratification  of  mere  curiosity  could  only  tend 
to  diminish  the  eventual  chances  of  success.  "  But  tell 
me  —  " 

"  One  word! "  she  interrupted,  with  a  sort  of  petulant 
impatience  that  appeared  to  be  characteristic  of  her.  We 
must,  at  all  events,  know  how  to  address  each  other  during 
the  short  time  we  remain  together.   What  is  your  name?  " 
Jocelyn  Loftus,"  was  the  answer. 

"  And  mine  is  Laura  Linden,"  she  immediately  rejoined, 
in  a  tone  so  full  of  ingenuousness  and  unaffected  simpHcity 
that  our  young  hero  was  angry  with  himself  for  having  in 
any  way  suspected  her  even  for  a  moment.  Perhaps  you 
have  heard  of  me  before?  " 

"  No,  never,"  answered  Jocelyn.  But  permit  me  to 
observe  that  since  your  enemies  appear  to  be  so  very  ran- 
corous, and  for  such  unworthy  or  rather  scandalous  causes, 
it  will  become  my  duty  to  propose  to  you,  on  our  escape 
hence,  such  escort  and  protection  as  I  may  be  enabled  to 
afford." 

"  Which  I  shall  accept  cheerfully  and  thankfully  back 
to  England,"  replied  Laura.  "  And  now  let  us  apply  our- 
selves earnestly  and  vigorously  to  work." 


THE  PREFECTURE  OF  POLICE  197 


"  But  have  you  already  any  settled  plan  which  you  are 
pursuing,  Miss  Linden?  "  inquired  Loft  us. 

I  have  ascertained  the  whole  geography  of  the  immense 
range  of  buildings  which  constitute  the  prefecture/'  replied 
the  lady.  "  The  old  charwoman,  yielding  to  heavy  bribes 
and  to  the  still  more  munificent  promises  which  I  made  her, 
has  been  won  over  to  my  interests.  It  was  she  who  supplied 
me  with  such  implements  as  I  required,  and  she  also  de- 
scribed to  me  the  situation  of  every  part  of  the  entire  struc- 
ture. There  is  not  a  room,  nor  a  corridor,  nor  a  courtyard, 
the  topography  of  which  remains  unknown  to  me.  This 
knowledge  made  me  aware  that  if  I  succeeded  in  escaping 
from  the  windows  of  my  own  room,  I  should  have  to  descend 
into  a  courtyard  where  detection  and  arrest  would  be 
inevitable.  I  therefore  resolved  —  on  learning  that  my 
neighbour  (I  mean  yourself)  was  an  Englishman  —  to 
penetrate  into  this  room  and  achieve  my  flight  by  means  of 
one  of  those  casements.  There  is  no  sentinel  in  the  court 
below.  I  know  all  its  outlets,  and  with  a  courageous  spirit 
to  succour  us,  we  may  be  free  long  ere  the  first  ray  of  dawn 
shall  glimmer  in  the  eastern  horizon." 

I  presume,"  said  Loftus,  glancing  upon  the  various 
articles  laid  upon  the  table,  that  we  are  to  file  away  the 
bars  of  the  window,  descend  by  the  silken  ladder  into  the 
courtyard,  and  make  use  of  those  skeleton  keys  for  any  door 
that  may  bar  our  progress?  " 

"  Such  is  the  course  which  I  propose,"  answered  Laura. 

But  this  bottle  of  yellow  fluid?  "  said  Jo celyn, inquiringly. 
"  It  is  nitric  acid  to  moisten  the  iron  bars,  and  render  the 
filing  of  them  more  easy.    But  quick!  quick!  "  she  again 
cried,  with  petulant  impatience;     let  as  to  work!  " 

"  It  is  now  half  an  hour  past  niidnight,"  observed  Loftus, 
consulting  his  watch;  let  us  see  if  we  have  sufficient  time 
before  us  to  execute  all  that  is  to  be  done." 

Thus  speaking,  he  gently  and  noiselessly  opened  one  of  the 
casements;  and  holding  a  candle  close  to  the  bars,  he 
examined  them  attentively. 

Yes,  Miss  Linden,"  he  observed,  "  I  will  undertake 
to  remove  a  couple  of  those  bars  in  two  hours,  —  an  hour  for 
each.  Then,  judging  from  your  ideas  of  the  topography  of 
the  place,  shall  we  have  sufficient  time  to  accomplish  all  that 
may  afterward  remain  to  be  done  ere  dayUght?  " 


198  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  Yes,  undoubtedly,"  answered  Laura,  with  all  the  nerv- 
ous trepidation  of  a  captive  impatient  to  be  free. 

But  scarcely  was  this  rapid  colloquy  interchanged  when 
a  gruff  voice,  coming  from  the  courtyard  below,  exclaimed 
in  French,  "  Shut  that  window  up  there,  and  put  out  the 
lights  directly,"  and  at  the  same  time  the  rattling  of  a  bunch 
of  keys  was  heard. 

"  Good  heavens!  "  murmured  the  lady,  clasping  her  hands 
as  if  in  despair;  "  it  is  the  watchman  going  his  rounds  who 
has  thus  observed  us!  " 

"  And  now,"  said  Loftus,  in  a  tone  of  bitter  disappoint- 
ment, "  we  must  look  upon  all  our  hopes  as  annihilated." 

"  Not  so,  not  so,"  ejaculated  Laura,  as  if  suddenly  inspired 
with  new  courage;  "  but  we  must  assuredly  abandon  our 
project  for  this  night,  and  in  the  morning  I  will  ascertain 
from  the  old  charwoman  the  precise  hours  at  which  that 
watchman  goes  his  rounds.  We  can  then  conduct  our 
operations  accordingly  to-morrow  night." 

Be  it  so,"  said  Loftus,  well  pleased  to  observe  that  Miss 
Linden,  who  evidently  knew  far  more  concerning  the  ar- 
rangements of  the  prefecture  than  he  did,  was  not  disposed 
to  resign  herself  to  despair. 

"  Now  then,  Number  15  there!  are  you  going  to  put  out 
those  Ughts?  "  exclaimed  the  gruff  voice  of  the  watchman 
from  the  courtyard  below;  and  again  did  he  clank  his  keys, 
as  if  backing  his  words  by  the  sounds  of  the  emblems  of 
authority. 

"  My  good  friend,"  said  Jocelyn,  approaching  the  casement, 
which  still  remained  open,  this  is  the  first  time  that  ever 
I  have  been  ordered  to  extinguish  my  candles  —  " 

But  if  you  have  been  allowed  to  keep  them  burning, 
it  was  only  through  an  indulgence,  and  not  as  a  right," 
interrupted  the  watchman,  doggedly. 

Is  it  because  you  observed  the  window  open  that  you 
now  seek  to  curtail  that  indulgence?  "  asked  Loftus,  in  as 
mild  and  as  conciliatory  a  tone  as  he  could  possibly  adopt. 

Well,  1  must  say  that  it  does  look  rather  suspicious," 
returned  the  watchman,  curtly;  "  and  therefore,  if  you  want 
to  avoid  being  reported  to  the  prefect  in  the  morning,  you 
will  at  once  do  as  I  bid  you,  by  shutting  that  window  and 
putting  out  those  Hghts." 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  keep  not  the  man  in  parley,  Mr. 


THE  PREFECTURE  OF  POLICE  199 


Loftus!  murmured  Miss  Linden,  from  the  corner  of  the 
room  into  which  she  had  shrunk.  He  will  suspect  some- 
thing, and  all  our  hopes  will  be  ruined/' 

"  Good  night,  my  friend,"  said  Loftus,  speaking  from  the 
casement  to  the  watchman  below.  "  Your  wishes  shall 
immediately  be  comphed  with,"  and  having  closed  the  win- 
dow, he  blew  out  the  candles. 

The  room  was  now  suddenly  plunged  into  total  darkness; 
and  the  reader  will  not  require  to  be  informed  that  Jocelyn 
was  placed  in  a  very  singular  and  awkward  predicament. 
There  he  was  alone  —  in  the  utter  obscurity  and  in  the 
depth  of  the  night  —  in  a  bedchamber  with  a  young  and  no 
doubt  beautiful  woman,  a  situation  in  which  most  men 
would  have  envied  him.  But  his  own  high  principles  of 
honour  and  integrity,  his  fidelity  toward  Louisa  Stanley, 
amounting  positively  to  a  devotion  and  a  worship,  and  like- 
wise the  generous  and  manly  considerations  which  he 
experienced  on  behalf  of  a  young,  eccentric,  but  heroic 
being  whom  circumstances  had  thus  so  suddenly  thrown 
in  his  way,  all  these  combined  at  once  to  raise  him,  as  it  were, 
above  the  embarrassment  of  his  position  and  render  him 
superior  to  its  awkwardness,  perplexity,  and  bewilderment. 

Miss  Linden,"  he  said,  almost  immediately,  "  I  am  far 
more  distressed  on  your  account  than  on  my  own  that  this 
enterprise  should  have  experienced  so  sudden  a  check,  after 
all  the  anxiety,  toil,  and  fatigue  which  you  have  undergone." 

"  Oh,  that  is  nothing  —  nothing,  Mr.  Loftus,"  she  said, 

provided  success  will  smile  upon  the  undertaking  to- 
morrow night." 

As  she  thus  spoke  our  hero  could  judge  by  the  sound  of  her 
voice,  the  shght  rustling  of  her  silk  dress,  and  the  gentle 
tread  of  her  footsteps,  that  she  was  approaching  toward  him; 
and  in  a  few  moments  he  felt  a  hand  laid  gently  upon  his 
arm. 

You  are  endowed  with  an  extraordinary  courage,"  he 
observed,  by  way  of  response  to  her  last  observation. 

Yes,  it  is  indomitable,  so  long  as  it  is  sustained  by  the 
excitement  of  the  enterprise,"  answered  Laura;  but  a 
reaction  soon  comes  on,  and  then,  alas!  I  melt  into  all  a 
woman's  weakness.  Guide  me  to  a  seat,  Mr.  Loftus,  for  a 
sudden  faintness  is  coming  over  me,"  she  murmured,  in  a 
tone  of  tremulous  entreaty;  and  at  the  same  time  she  clung 


200  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


to  our  hero  with  her  warm  naked  arms,  as  if  to  prevent 
herself  from  faUing. 

Jocelyn  hastened  to  conduct  her  to  the  chair  which  he 
knew  to  be  nearest;  and  she  sank  upon  it  Hke  one  overcome 
by  physical  and  mental  exhaustion. 

This  veil  suffocates  me,"  she  said,  with  that  petulance 
which  appeared  the  characteristic  of  her  disposition.  Thank 
Heaven  a  pitchy  darkness  prevails  at  this  moment,  so  that 
I  can  take  it  off  and  breathe  fresh  air!  "  Then,  by  the 
sound  which  met  his  ears,  Jocelyn  knew  that  she  was  re- 
moving the  veil  from  her  head.  "  Now  give  me  a  glass  of 
water,  Mr.  Loftus,"  she  said,  after  a  few  moments'  pause. 

He  felt  his  way  to  a  shelf  on  which  a  decanter  and  glasses 
stood;  and  filling  a  tumbler  with  water,  he  returned  to  where 
the  lady  was  seated. 

"  Place  the  glass  to  my  lips,"  she  said,  in  a  faint  and  dying 
tone,  so  that  Loftus  became  very  seriously  alarmed  lest  she 
should  swoon  outright. 

He  hastened  to  comply  with  her  request,  and  by  raising 
the  tumbler  to  her  lips,  enabled  her  thus  to  imbibe  the  cool- 
ing beverage. 

"  Enough,  enough,"  she  murmured,  in  a  voice  that  was 
now  scarcely  audible;  and  her  head  drooped  completely 
against  Jocelyn's  breast,  as  he  stood  close  by  the  chair  in 
which  she  was  seated. 

Heavens!  what  can  I  do  for  you.  Miss  Linden?  "  he 
inquired,  now  truly  perplexed  and  most  cruelly  bewildered. 

Nothing,  nothing;  I  shall  be  better  presently,"  she  said, 
still  very  faintly,  but  somewhat  more  audibly  than  before. 
''It  is  a  passing  indisposition;  let  me  repose  for  a  few 
minutes  upon  your  couch,  and  then  I  shall  be  so  far  restored 
as  to  be  enabled  to  creep  back  into  my  own  room." 

As  she  thus  spoke,  she  clung  to  Joselyn  in  such  a  manner 
that  he  was  compelled  to  raise  her  in  his  arms,  and  sustain 
her  —  indeed,  we  might  almost  say  carry  her  —  toward 
the  couch.  But  these  attentions  he  bestowed  upon  her  with 
as  much  tender  delicacy  as  a  brother  would  exhibit  toward 
a  well-beloved  sister;  and  it  might  have  also  been  with  that 
sisterly  reUance  on  her  part  which  present  circumstances 
were  so  well  calculated  to  inspire,  —  it  might  have  been, 
we  say,  in  that  same  artless,  ingenuous,  and  unsophisticated 
spirit  that  Laura  Linden  herself  clung  so  tenaciously  to  our 


THE  PREFECTURE  OF  POLICE  201 


hero.  At  all  events,  full  certain  was  it  that  her  round  plump 
arms  encircled  his  neck,  her  full  and  well-developed  bust 
was  in  the  closest  contact  with  his  chest,  her  head  lay  droop- 
ingly  upon  his  shoulder,  and  her  whole  form  was  yielded  up, 
as  it  were,  in  the  utter  abandonment  of  exhaustion  and 
faint ness,  as  a  sleeping  child  is  borne  in^the  arms  of  a  father. 
He  felt  her  warm  cheek  against  his  own,  her  fragrant  breath 
fanning  his  face,  her  silky  tresses  commingling  with  his  own 
hair;  and  as  she  heaved  quick,  short  gaspings,  like  half- 
suffocated  sobs,  the  firm  bosom  palpitated  with  rapid  un- 
dulations against  his  breast.  Thus,  had  there  been  aught  of 
grossness  or  impurity  in  his  imagination,  he  must  have 
yielded  to  such  exquisite  temptations;  for  assuredly  that 
position  was  seductive  enough  to  melt  the  stoicism  of  an 
anchorite  or  vanquish  the  virtue  of  an  angel. 

Gently  depositing  Laura  Linden  upon  the  couch,  Jocelyn 
inwardly  hoped,  by  everything  solemn  and  sacred,  that 
she  would  not  fall  off  into  a  complete  swoon,  but  would 
speedily  recover.  He  remained  standing  by  the  couch,  in 
that  same  brotherly  spirit  of  readiness  to  minister  any 
attention  that  might  be  required;  nor  could  he  very  well 
have  retreated,  even  had  he  been  so  disposed,  for  the  lady, 
apparently  with  the  nervous  tenacity  of  one  whose  ideas 
are  thrown  into  confusion,  had  caught  hold  of  his  hands  and 
retained  them  clasped  in  her  own. 

Do  you  feel  better,  Miss  Linden?  "  asked  Jocelyn. 

"  Yes,  much  better,  I  thank  you,"  she  responded,  pressing 
his  hands  as  if  in  gratitude  to  her  bosom.  You  have  been 
kind,  very  kind  to  me,"  she  murmured,  in  a  tremulous  tone; 

no  brother  could  have  been  kinder  or  more  affectionate," 
and  she  imprinted  a  kiss  upon  the  hand  which  was  nearest 
to  her  lips  at  the  moment. 

Jocelyn  started  perceptibly  at  what  seemed  to  him  an 
uncalled-for  manifestation  of  a  too  tender  gratitude;  and 
the  next  moment  Laura  suddenly  abandoned  the  hold  which 
she  had  upon  his  hands,  exclaiming,  I  feel  so  much  better 
now  that  I  will  return  into  my  own  room.  But  you  must 
assist  me  to  pass  through  the  aperture,"  she  added,  with 
that  musical  vibration  of  tone,  which  showed  that  she  was 
smiling  at  the  idea. 

Rising  slowly  from  the  couch  and  in  a  manner  which 
seemed  to  indicate  that  she  was  still  weak  and  feeble,  Miss 


202  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Linden  felt  her  way  toward  the  opening  in  the  wall,  Jocelyn 
following  close  behind  her.  After  three  or  four  vain  and 
ineffectual  endeavours  to  pass  her  form  through  the  aper- 
ture, she  said,  in  a  voice  apparently  trembling  with  alarm, 
"  Good  heavens!  I  cannot  possibly  accomplish  my  purpose! 
You  remember  that  you  had  to  drag  me  through  into  your 
own  room,  and  therefore  I  cannot  pass  back  into  my  cham- 
ber unless  similarly  assisted  by  some  one  there.  What  is 
to  be  done?  "  she  demanded,  impatiently. 

"  Compose  yourself.  Miss  Linden,  and  try  once  more," 
responded  Loftus.  It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  you 
should  get  back  without  delay,  to  remove  all  traces  of  our 
proceedings;  otherwise  the  prefect's  livery  servant,  when 
he  visits  our  rooms  in  the  morning  —  " 

Oh,  yes,  the  chances  of  detection  have  now  become 
fearful,"  interrupted  Laura,  clinging  as  if  in  despair  to  our 
young  hero.  "  But  it  is  no  use  for  me  to  try  and  pass 
through  that  aperture;  I  can  not;  it  hurts  me,  it  lacerates 
my  flesh." 

"  Then  what  in  Heaven's  name  shall  we  do?  "  asked 
Jocelyn,  more  cruelly  bewildered  and  perplexed  than  ever. 

"  There  is  no  alternative,  I  fear,"  replied  the  lady,  in  a 
tone  that  suddenly  became  solemnly  serious,  for  the  pre- 
dicament in  which  she  was  placed  indeed  seemed  but  too 
well  calculated  to  shock  the  feelings  of  a  modest  damsel. 

There  is  only  one  alternative,  I  say,"  she  repeated,  "  and 
that  is  to  await  as  patiently  as  we  can  until  the  first  dawn 
of  morning  shall  afford  us  a  glimmer  of  light  by  which  we 
may  enlarge  the  aperture.  This  will  not  take  long  to  do, 
and  will  still  leave  ample  time  ere  the  coming  of  our  gaoler 
to  replace  all  the  masonry  and  woodwork,  and  thus  remove 
every  trace  of  our  proceedings.  I  fear,  Mr.  Loftus,  that  there 
is  no  other  alternative  than  the  course  I  have  pointed  out." 

"  It  indeed  appears  so,"  observed  Jocelyn,  in  a  tone 
which  expressed  all  the  cruel  embarrassment  which  he  so 
keenly  felt. 

Our  young  hero  and  the  beauteous  Laura  Linden  therefore 
found  themselves  doomed  to  remain  together  for  several 
hours  in  the  darkness  of  the  chamber  and  surrounded  by  all 
the  temptations  of  this  strange  predicament. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


LORD  AND  LADY  SACKVILLE 

Leaving  Jocelyn  Loftus  and  his  eccentric  companion 
for  awhile  in  the  prison-chamber  at  the  prefecture  of  police, 
we  must  now  return  to  the  English  capital. 

In  a  magnificently  furnished  saloon  at  Carlton  House,  and 
between  ten  and  eleven  at  night,  Lord  and  Lady  Sackville 
were  seated  together  upon  a  sofa.  Nothing  could  exceed 
the  splendour  by  which  they  were  surrounded;  and  if  every- 
thing that  was  luxurious,  gorgeous,  and  superb  could  render 
existence  supremely  blest,  then  must  this  young  and  hand- 
some pair  have  been  preeminently  happy. 

The  gilded  furniture,  the  rich  draperies,  the  thick  carpets, 
the  ornaments  of  rarest  porcelain,  the  tables  covered  with 
all  those  fashionable  trinkets,  trifles,  and  knickknacks 
which,  though  mere  useless  nothings,  are  nevertheless  so 
preeminently  costly,  —  all  these  features,  phases,  and 
evidences  of  consummate  splendour  and  refined  luxury 
characterized  the  new  abode  of  Lord  and  Lady  Sackville. 
Indeed,  one  of  the  handsomest  suites  of  apartments  in  the 
prince  regent's  palace  had  thus  been  assigned  to  them;  and 
yet,  although  they  were  the  envy  and  admiration  of  the 
entire  fashionable  world,  we  now  find  them  seated  mourn- 
fully together  in  that  splendid  saloon. 

Nevertheless,  Venetia  looked  transcendently  lovely  in 
the  gorgeous  dress  that  she  wore;  and  her  husband,  as  he 
gazed  upon  her,  might  well  have  been  proud  of  possessing 
such  a  wife.  On  the  other  hand,  never  had  Horace  himself 
seemed  more  truly  handsome,  and  any  wife  might  have 
been  proud  of  such  a  husband.  Besides,  was  not  their  name 
gilded  with  a  title?  Did  not  the  glory  of  a  patrician  coronet 
encircle  their  brow?  Had  not  a  pension  of  three  thousand  a 

203 


204  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


year  been  conferred  upon  the  newly  created  peer,  in  order^ 
as  the  cant  phrase  goes,  ^'  that  he  might  be  enabled  to  sup- 
port his  rank."  Had  he  not  an  additional  income  arising, 
from  the  office  of  lord  steward  in  the  regent's  household,  and 
did  not  the  tables  in  that  very  saloon  groan  beneath  the  evi- 
dences of  the  lavish  profusion  with  which  the  prince  showered 
down  the  choicest  gifts  upon  Venetia?  Wherefore,  then^ 
was  this  noble  couple  a  prey  to  melancholy?  Wherefore  had 
a  cloud  settled  upon  their  countenances?  Had  they  not  all 
that  honour,  wealth,  splendour,  and  distinction  could  con- 
tribute or  combine  to  ensure  their  felicity?  Were  they  not 
the  idols  of  the  fashionable  world?  Was  not  Horace  courted, 
flattered,  and  smiled  upon  by  the  proudest  dukes  and 
haughtiest  earls?  And  did  not  the  stateliest  duchesses  and 
the  most  exclusive  countesses  regard  Venetia  as  a  being 
second  only  to  a  queen?  In  a  word,  was  not  Lady  Sackville 
caressed  and  fawned  upon  by  the  whole  British  aristocracy 
because  she  was  the  mistress  of  the  prince  regent?  And 
was  not  Lord  Sackville  similarly  courted  because  he  was 
the  husband  of  that  royal  harlot? 

Yes,  it  was  precisely  because  Venetia  was  thus  the  mistress 
of  the  prince,  and  it  was  because  her  husband  was  the  pander 
to  her  shame,  —  for  these  reasons  was  it  they  were  mournful 
now.  This  was  almost  the  first  time  they  had  found  them- 
selves alone  together  since  the  whirl  of  pleasure,  gaiety,  and 
fashionable  dissipation  had  commenced  immediately  after 
Venetia  surrendered  herself  to  the  arms  of  the  prince. 
But  on  this  particular  occasion  his  Royal  Highness  was 
engaged  with  the  Ministers ;  and  it  happened  that  Lord  and 
Lady  Sackville  were  invited  to  no  fashionable  reunion  for 
the  evening,  nor  had  they  company  in  their  own  apartments. 
The  consequence  was  that  when  the  royal  dinner-party 
had  broken  up,  Horace  and  Venetia  found  themselves  thus 
alone,  —  thus,  as  it  were,  compelled  to  look  each  other  in  the 
face  despite  the  feelings  of  shame  that  were  struggling  in  their 
hearts.  For  be  it  understood  that  they  were  not  yet  so 
inured  to  depravity  nor  so  thoroughly  steeped  in  profligacy 
as  to  have  become  altogether  callous  to  the  whispering  of 
the  soul's  innermost  voices  and  the  influence  of  the  heart's 
better  feelings. 

"  Venetia,  my  dearest  wife,"  said  Horace,  taking  her  hand 
and  pressing  it  to  his  lips,  "  tell  me,  are  you  happy?  " 


LORD  AND  LADY  SACKVILLE  205 


"  Nay,  answer  me  the  same  question  first,"  said  Venetia, 
looking  in  his  face  for  a  moment,  then  colouring  deeply, 
and  casting  down  her  beauteous  eyes,  as  if  the  lids  were 
oppressed  with  a  weight  of  shame. 

Did  we  not  agree,"  asked  Lord  Sackville,  on  that 
memorable  night,  or  rather,  morning,  when  you  returned  to 
Acacia  Cottage  from  Carlton  House — " 

Oh,  allude  not  thus  particularly  to  that  night,"  said 
Yenetia,  with  a  strong  shudder  which  swept  visibly  over 
Jier  entire  form,  as  a  rapid  breeze  appears  to  bear  a  sudden 
ruffle  along  the  surface  of  the  lake. 

Pardon  me,  my  love,  for  being  too  explicit,"  exclaimed 
Horace,  noticing  that  cold  tremor;  but  I  was  merely 
desirous  of  reminding  you  of  a  special  occasion  on  which  we 
agreed  that  we  would  make  ourselves  happy  in  spite  of  all 
•circumstances." 

Yes,  I  remember  full  well,"  returned  Venetia;  "  and 
Heaven  knows  that  I  have  endeavoured  to  make  myself, 
and  also  to  make  you,  as  happy  as  possible.   But  —  " 

But  what?  "  ejaculated  Horace,  starting  from  the  sofa, 
and  speaking  with  the  nervous  abruptness  of  a  man  who  is 
irresistibly  impelled  to  court  explanations  which  he  never- 
theless dreads  to  hear. 

"  Sit  down,  Horace,  sit  down,"  said  Venetia,  and  I  will 
tell  you  what  I  mean." 

But  instead  of  resuming  his  place  by  her  side  on  the  sofa, 
he  seated  himself  upon  a  footstool,  pillowed  his  head  upon 
her  lap,  and  said,  Now  speak  frankly,  Venetia,  and  tell 
me  all  that  you  have  to  impart." 

Ah!  this  position  which  you  have  taken,  this  attitude 
which  you  have  assumed,  here,  sitting  at  my  feet,"  exclaimed 
Venetia,  powerfully  moved  and  profoundly  touched,  re- 
minds me  of  the  days  of  our  honeymoon,  that  honeymoon 
which  was  so  short,  yes,  short  but  beatific  like  a  glimpse  of 
Paradise.  Then  we  were  all  love,  all  confidence,  all  childish 
playfulness;  we  could  look  each  other  in  the  face,  only  to 
smile,  and  not  to  blush.  But  now  —  now,  how  altered  is  it 
all,  what  a  change  has  come  over  us !  By  rising  to  an  eleva- 
tion which  makes  us  envied,  flattered,  fawned  upon,  we 
have  been  made  to  loathe,  detest,  and  abhor  ourselves.  Oh, 
may  God  grant  that  we  shall  not  end  by  loathing,  detesting, 
and  abhorring  each  other!  " 


206  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  Heavens,  Venetia!  to  hear  thee  talk  thus/'  exclaimed 
Lord  Sackville,  drives  me  mad.  Why,  even  within  a  few 
hours  after  what  may  be  termed  your  fall,  yes,  even  the 
very  next  morning,  we  could  look  each  other  in  the  face 
without  blushing.  But  now  it  seems  as  if  the  pangs  of 
remorse  and  the  poignancy  of  shame  have  sprung  into  keen 
vitality  again,  as  if  memory,  instead  of  being  blunted  with  the 
lapse  of  days  and  weeks,  is  actually  becoming  sharpened, 
as  if  pleasure  could  not  drown  that  memory  in  its  roseate 
floods,  as  if  luxury  could  not  lull  our  recollections  into  repose, 
and  as  if  honours,  riches,  adulation,  and  rank  could  not 
appease  us  for  what  we  have  done." 

"  Oh,  look  up  at  me,  Horace,  look  up,"  exclaimed  Venetia, 
in  the  melting  harmony  of  that  dehcious  voice  which  pene- 
trated like  a  strain  of  celestial  music  into  the  soul;  "  look 
up  to  me  a  moment,  my  beloved  husband.  Let  us  forget 
what  we  are,  let  us  forget  what  has  passed,  let  us  forget  also 
what  is  to  come,  and  think  only  of  this  present  moment. 
For  we  are  here  alone  together;  and  oh,  let  us  concentrate 
our  thoughts  into  a  dream,  if  it  may  not  be  a  reality  of  bliss ! 
Let  us  indulge  in  an  embrace  as  warm,  as  tender,  and  as 
affectionate  as  those  in  which  we  were  wont  to  steep  our 
senses  ere  the  date  of  what  you  just  now  so  truthfully 
denominated  my  fall!  " 

"  Yes,  oh,  yes,  let  us  embrace  thus,"  cried  Horace,  sud- 
denly inspired  with  all  the  enthusiasm  of  adoration  and 
devotion  for  his  young  and  beauteous  wife;  then,  as  he 
knelt  at  her  feet,  he  gazed  up  passionately  into  her  glowing 
countenance,  while  she  looked  down  with  equal  tenderness 
upon  him;  and  then  their  lips  met  in  a  kiss  more  dehcious 
than  any  in  which  those  lips  had  joined  since  the  memorable 
date  of  Venetia's  fall. 

But  now  as  Horace,  resuming  his  place  upon  the  footstool, 
gazed  up  at  his  wife,  now  that  he  surveyed  her  with  a  fond- 
ness as  fervid  and  as  impassioned  as  ever  he  was  wont  to 
display  previous  to  that  night  of  her  degradation  and  her 
shame,  he  could  not  help  feeling  rejoiced  at  possessing  a 
woman  of  such  transcending  beauty,  even  though  he  was 
compelled  to  abandon  her  at  times  to  the  arms  of  another. 
But  as  his  eyes  slowly  travelled  over  her  entire  person, 
commencing  with  that  superb  auburn  hair  which  lay  upon 
her  brow  like  dark  gold  on  alabaster,  then  hngering  on  that 


LORD  AND  LADY  SACKVILLE  207 


countenance  every  feature  of  which  was  so  faultless  in 
its  chiselUng  and  so  classic  in  its  style  of  beauty,  those  eyes 
of  such  tender  melting  blue  that  not  even  the  hyacinth  on 
India's  fields  could  compare  therewith,  those  lips  of  such 
deUcious  redness  and  dewy  moisture,  ever  remaining  the 
least  thing  apart  so  as  not  only  to  give  a  softly  sensuous 
expression  to  the  countenance,  but  also  to  afford  a  glimpse 
of  teeth  whiter  than  the  pearls  of  the  East;  then,  continuing 
this  survey,  to  trace  the  swan  like  curvature  of  that  snowy 
neck,  the  voluptuous  fulness  of  those  sloping  and  softly 
rounded  shoulders,  the  grandeur  of  that  bust  which  swelled 
into  a  luxuriance  more  ample  than  sculptural  richness  ever 
set  forth,  rising  like  hemispheres  of  poUshed  alabaster  in 
their  well-divided  contours,  yet  with  that  hue  of  life  wherein 
the  marble  can  never  rival  the  living  form,  and  appearing 
to  the  look  full  of  glowing  ardour,  warmth,  and  passion; 
then,  still  proceeding  with  the  survey,  to  mark  the  wasphke 
symmetry  of  the  waist,  and  the  robust  proportions  of  the 
naked  arms,  so  admirably  rounded,  so  polished,  and  so 
white;  then,  with  descending  look,  to  gather  from  the  folds 
of  the  drapery  an  outline  or  shadowing  forth  of  the  splendid 
symmetry  of  all  the  lower  limbs,  and  to  finish  the  survey 
with  a  view  of  the  well-rounded  but  slender  ankle,  and  of 
the  long  shapely  foot  resting  on  the  very  ottoman  where 
he  sat,  —  oh,  thus  to  wander  over  the  beauties  of  that 
woman  and  linger  on  all  her  charms  in  detail  from  head  to 
foot,  was  it  not  indeed  sufficient  to  crown  the  happiness  of 
any  man,  to  know  that  this  transcendent  being  was  his 
own? 

Now  I  feel  happy  once  more,  —  as  happy  as  I  was 
wont  to  be,"  said  Horace,  taking  his  wife's  hands  in  both 
his  own  and  playing  with  the  long  tapering  fingers  so  beauti- 
fully crowned  with  the  arching  nails  of  pellucid  rosiness. 
"  Thou  art  indeed  wondrously  beautiful,  my  Venetia;  and 
I  am  rejoiced  that,  amidst  the  whirl  of  pleasure  and  dissi- 
pation, we  have  at  length  found  an  hour's  leisure  to  be 
alone  with  each  other  thus." 

"Yes,  I  love  thee,  my  Horace  —  O  God!  I  love  thee/' 
exclaimed  Venetia,  suddenly  throwing  her  arms  around  his 
neck  as  if  with  the  impulse  of  frenzied  violence;  then  as  a 
strong  shudder  again  swept  through  her  form,  she  cried, 
almost  with  accents  of  despair,  "  Ah!  would  to  God  that 


208  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


I  never  more  should  be  clasped  in  any  arms  but  thine 
own!  " 

"  Now  tell  me  what  you  mean,  Venetia/'  said  Horace. 

Come,  let  there  be  confidence  between  us.  I  see  that 
something  is  dwelling  in  your  mind,  and  it  will  ease  thee 
to  disburden  thyself  to  the  ears  of  thy  husband." 

"  Listen,  then,  my  beloved  Horace,  and  I  will  tell  thee," 
said  Venetia,  in  a  low  and  stifling  tone,  as  if  her  very  thoughts 
were  choking  her  ere  she  gave  utterance  to  them.  "  But 
there,  pillow  thy  head  upon  my  bosom,  with  thy  face 
downward,  so  that  I  may  not  meet  thy  looks  while  I  proceed 
to  unveil  the  secret  cause  that  makes  me  shudder.  It  is," 
she  continued,  in  a  low,  deep,  almost  hollow  tone,  as  if  her 
voice  had  suddenly  lost  its  wonted  harmony,  "  it  is  that  I 
loathe,  hate,  and  abhor  that  prince  to  whom  I  have  been 
sold,  —  or,  rather,  to  whom  I  have  sold  myself;  it  is  that 
I  detest  the  hjrpocrisy  which  compels  me  to  smile  upon  him, 
to  appear  to  receive  his  caresses  joyfully,  and  to  be  com- 
pelled to  lavish  upon  him  the  tenderest  caresses  in  return. 
But  worse,  worse  than  all  that,"  added  Venetia,  bending 
down  her  head  so  that  her  lips  touched  her  husband's  ear 
as  his  own  head  reposed  upon  her  bosom;  then,  in  words 
that  seemed  to  hiss  as  if  coming  from  the  mouth  of  a  snake, 
she  whispered,  "  it  is,  Horace,  that  I  would  sooner  submit 
to  the  hideous  pawings  of  an  imp  than  to  the  loathsome 
embraces  of  that  filthy  sensualist." 

Horace  started  up,  with  a  violent  sob  suddenly  bursting 
from  his  breast;  and  beginning  to  pace  the  room  in  a  manner 
fearfully  excited,  he  exclaimed,  "  O  horror!  that  my  own  wife 
should  be  doomed  to  make  such  a  revelation  as  this  to  my 
ears!  Oh,  that  one  whom  I  have  loved  so  fondly,  madly, 
devotedly,  and  whom  I  still  love  so  well,  should  be  con- 
signed to  so  hellish  a  fate,  so  damnable  a  destiny!  But  it  is 
all  my  fault  —  my  fault,"  he  repeated,  striking  his  breast 
forcibly.  "  It  was  I  who  could  have  saved  her  while  she  was 
as  yet  far  off  from  the  precipice;  it  was  I  who  could  have 
rescued  her  at  the  moment  she  was  trembling  above  it. 
But,  no,  base  villain  that  I  was!  I  suffered  her  to  fall." 

"  Reproach  not  yourself,  my  dearest  husband,"  mur- 
mured the  well-known  voice  which  had  now  regained  all 
its  wonted  sweetness  and  characteristic  melody,  and  at 
the  same  instant  a  beauteous  white  hand  was  laid  upon  his 


LORD  AND  LADY  SACKVILLE  209 


shoulder.  ''It  is  not  your  fault.  I  was  foredoomed  and 
predestined  even  before  you  and  I  first  met.  You  know 
it  —  you  know  it,  Horace,"  repeated  Lady  Sackville; 
"  and  long  before  you  agreed  to  marry  me  you  were  aware 
how  inextricably  I  was  entangled,  b}^  what  solemn  vows  I 
was  engaged,  by  what  pledges  I  was  bound,  and  under  what 
influences  I  was  controlled.  You  knew  that  all  the  appear- 
ances of  ease,  comfort,  and  wealth  which  surrounded  me 
at  Acacia  Cottage  could  have  been  swept  away  in  a  moment 
had  I  dared  deviate  from  the  path  which  had  been  chalked 
out  for  me  to  pursue.  You  were  likewise  aware  that  Mrs. 
Arbuthnot  herself  was  a  spy  upon  my  actions,  reporting 
every  look,  word,  and  deed  of  mine  to  the  supreme  authority 
in  Stratton  Street.  Such  was  my  condition  before  my 
marriage  with  you;  and  since  —  " 

"Ah!  since!"  ejaculated  Horace,  with  passionate  vehe- 
mence; "  it  is  that  that  goads  me  to  desperation.  For  when 
once  you  were  my  wife,  I  could  have  rescued  you  from 
those  trammels  which  had  previously  enthralled  you;  I 
might  have  turned  around  upon  those  who  had  thus  en- 
meshed you  in  their  toils;  I  could  have  said,  '  This  lady  is 
my  wife,  and  shall  not  be  the  slave  of  your  intrigues.'  All 
this  could  I  have  done,  and  you  would  have  been  saved, 
and  we  might  still  be  enabled  to  look  each  other  in  the  face 
without  blushing  at  the  thought  of  that  crowning  degrada- 
tion to  which  you,  my  unfortunate  wife,  have  been  doomed 
to  submit." 

"  Not  so,  not  so,  Horace,"  said  Venetia,  now  evidently 
taking  upon  herself  the  task  of  consoling,  reassuring,  and 
tranquilUzing  her  husband;  "  for  had  we  dared,  when  our 
hands  were  joined  in  matrimony,  to  rise  up  boldly  against 
the  authority  which  I  had  previously  sworn  to  obey,  —  that 
very  authority,  too,  which  assented  to  our  union  only  on 
express  and  positive  conditions,  —  all  the  past  would  have 
been  pitilessly  and  remorselessly  made  public  in  order  to 
stamp  me  with  the  reputation  of  an  adventuress." 

"They  could  not  have  done  it  —  they  dared  not!  "  cried 
Horace,  stamping  his  foot  with  indignation.  "  There  was 
no  ground  for  it;  you  were  no  adventuress.  If  you  were, 
'twas  by  others  you  were  made  so." 

"  Ah!  "  said  Venetia,  with  a  peculiar  look,  "  you  forget 
into  whose  hands  I  fell,  and  who  first  introduced  me  —  " 


210  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  Enough,  enough  of  all  this,"  ejaculated  Horace,  sud- 
denly. I  see  that  you  are  right;  we  could  not  have  acted 
otherwise  than  we  have  done.  And,  after  all,"  he  added, 
abruptly,  "  we  are  fools  to  make  ourselves  miserable.  I 
am  Lord  Sackville,  you  are  Lady  Sackville;  I  am  a  peer  of 
the  realm,  you  are  a  peeress;  we  possess  titles  and  pensions 
which  cannot  be  taken  away  from  us.  Our  fortunes  are 
therefore  made  for  life;  and  it  is  now  our  bounden  duty  to 
endeavour  to  enjoy  that  life  as  well  as  we  are  able." 

"  Yes,  we  must  make  up  our  minds  to  adopt  this  course," 
said  Venetia.  "  And  indeed,"  she  cried,  with  a  sudden 
access  of  that  callous,  selfish,  heartless  feeHng  which  makes 
the  thorough  woman  of  the  world,  "  we  possess  all  the  reahties 
and  substantial,  the  essentials  and  the  materials,  to  make 
existence  thoroughly  happy.  It  will  therefore  be  our  own 
faults  if  we  allow  sentiment  and  feehng  to  interfere  with 
that  happiness." 

Yes,"  observed  Horace,  readily  arming  himself  with 
the  buckler  of  that  cold  selfishness  which  Venetia  had  just 
assumed;  "  it  will  only  be  a  false  feeUng  and  a  maudhn 
sentimentalism  that  can  be  allowed  to  interfere  with  the 
realities  of  our  happiness.  Let  us  then  agree,  solemnly 
agree,"  continued  Horace,  "  never  more  to  talk  softness 
and  tenderness  to  each  other,  but  to  look,  speak,  and  act  as 
the  thorough  man  and  woman  of  the  world." 

Yes,  cheerfully  do  I  subscribe  to  that  agreement," 
responded  Venetia. 

"  Then  henceforth  our  very  love  shall  cease  to  be  a  senti- 
ment," continued  Horace,  "  and  shall  merely  be  a  sensualism. 
We  will  have  no  jealousies,  piques,  vexations —  " 

"  No  boyish  and  girhsh  dalHance  and  romance,"  added 
Venetia;  "  no  poetry  of  the  feelings  —  " 

Nought  save  passions,  cravings,  and  impulses  that 
become  men  and  women  of  the  world,"  exclaimed  Horace. 
"  And  now,  my  beautiful  wife,  —  as  thou  art  indeed  more 
ravishingly  beautiful  than  ever  this  evening,  especially  with 
that  rich  glow  upon  thy  cheeks,  —  let  us  retire  to  our  own 
chamber  that  in  each  other's  arms  we  may  taste  the  joys  of 
paradise." 

With  the  wanton  glow  deepening  upon  her  countenance, 
and  with  a  soft  and  sensuous  lustre  steahng  into  her  swim- 
ming eyes,  Venetia  was  extending  her  hand  toward  her 


LORD  AND  LADY  SACKVILLE  211 


husband,  when  the  door  suddenly  opened,  and  the  prince 
regent  burst  somewhat  unceremoniously  into  the  room. 

My  dear  Horace,  my  dear  Venetia,"  he  said,  tapping 
the  former  famiharly  upon  the  back,  but  at  once  flinging 
his  arm  around  the  waist  of  the  latter,  I  thought  I  should 
have  been  kept  up  by  the  Ministers  till  two  or  three  o'clock 
this  morning.  Fortunately,  however,  I  have  got  rid  of 
them,  and  now  I  am  my  own  master  once  again." 

Thus  speaking,  he  gave  a  significant  nod  to  Lord  Sack- 
ville,  who  was  compelled  to  obey  it  by  at  once  leaving  the 
room.  But  as  he  turned  away  to  seek  the  door,  the  colour 
came  and  went  upon  his  cheeks  in  such  rapid  transitions, 
and  he  bit  his  ashy  hp  so  violently,  that  the  poignancy  of 
his  emotions  may  be  better  conceived  than  described. 

Venetia  remained  in  the  gorgeous  saloon  with  the  prince, 
while  her  husband,  not  only  baffled  in  the  anticipation  of 
enjoying  the  company  of  his  own  wife  that  night,  but  also 
compelled  to  sneak  like  a  vile  cur  away,  retired  to  his  solitary 
chamber.  There  he  was  compelled  to  gloat  upon  his  titles 
and  his  honours,  in  order  to  soothe  the  sense  of  shame  and 
degradation  that  rankled  so  bitterly  in  his  mind. 

Whatever  annoyance  Venetia  might  have  felt  at  being 
thus  forced  to  yield  to  the  whims  and  minister  to  the  fan- 
tasies of  his  Royal  Highness,  she  nevertheless  most  artfully 
and  successfully  veiled  her  emotions  beneath  a  smiling 
aspect. 

Do  you  know,  my  angel,"  said  the  prince,  who  had 
evidently  been  drinking  with  tolerable  freedom,  and  whose 
vinous  breath  was  most  sickly  and  nauseating  to  Venetia 
as  he  bestowed  hot  kisses  upon  her  countenance,  "  do  you 
know,"  he  said,  that  those  cursed  Ministers,  by  coming 
so  suddenly  and  so  unseasonably  to  pester  me  on  state 
affairs,  deprived  me  of  a  little  pastime  which  certain  young 
ladies  had  contemplated  for  my  diversion?  However,  it 
is  not  yet  too  late,"  he  exclaimed,  starting  to  his  feet, 
and  if  you  choose,  you  shall  be  a  spectatress,  though  an 
unseen  one,  of  the  amusement." 

Of  what  nature  is  this  pastime?  "  inquired  Venetia, 
eagerly  catching  at  anything  that  seemed  calculated  to 
release  her  from  the  loathsome  caresses  which  the  prince 
was  now  lavishing  upon  her. 

Come  and  see,"  he  rephed;  and  giving  her  his  arm, 


212  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


he  conducted  her  across  the  principal  landing,  down  a  long 
passage,  into  an  antechamber,  at  the  extremity  of  which 
was  a  glass  door  communicating  with  another  apartment. 

Remain  here,  my  love,"  said  the  prince;  "  but  if  the 
fantasy  should  seize  you  to  come  and  join  our  sport,  pray 
do  so  without  ceremony." 

Having  thus  spoken,  and  bestowing  another  parting 
caress  upon  Venetia,  the  prince  hastened  by  the  glass  door 
into  the  adjoining  apartment. 

Lady  Sackville  now  approached  this  glass  door,  and 
peeping  between  the  crimson  blinds  in  such  a  way  that  she 
could  see  everything  without  being  seen  herself,  she  plunged 
her  looks  into  the  interior  of  the  magnificent  saloon  which 
his  Royal  Highness  had  just  entered.  For  magnificent  it 
indeed  was,  furnished  in  the  most  luxurious  style,  and 
flooded  with  the  Ught  poured  forth  by  numerous  chandehers 
and  lamps.  But  what  chiefly  interested  Venetia  was  the 
circumstance  that  five  or  six  young  ladies,  all  of  whom  she 
recognized  as  belonging  to  the  proudest  families  of  the 
aristocracy,  had  gathered  around  the  prince,  and  were 
assailing  him  with  all  the  artillery  alike  of  their  charms  and 
their  wit.  Venetia  was  not  jealous  at  the  position  in  which 
her  royal  lover  was  thus  placed.  She  loathed  and  detested 
him  too  cordially  to  experience  a  sentiment  which,  though 
in  itself  a  noxious  weed,  yet  can  only  flourish  when  moistened 
by  the  dews  of  love;  and  she  likewise  despised  and  con- 
temned him  more  than  ever  for  having  brought  her  to  behold 
the  present  spectacle. 

"  He  believes  me  to  be  utterly  and  thoroughly  depraved," 
she  thought  within  herself,  "  and  that  I  take  delight  in  all 
kinds  of  profligacy.  Well,  perhaps  the  time  may  come 
when  I  shall  do  so.  At  all  events,  henceforth  I  shall  never 
hesitate  to  follow  my  own  inclinations,  and  gratify  any 
caprices  that  may  take  possession  of  me;  for  I  perceive  full 
well  that  virtue  is  a  mockery,  delicacy  a  laughing-stock, 
and  propriety  an  imaginery  thing,  within  the  precincts  of 
a  court." 

Venetia  was  thus  musing  to  herself,  when  she  became 
aware  of  footsteps  behind  her.  She  turned  abruptly  around, 
and  beheld  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon. 

Now,  it  will  be  remembered  that  the  baronet,  when  avail- 
ing himself  of  his  turn  to  prosecute  the  love-campaign 


LORD  AND  LADY  SACKVILLE  213 


against  Venetia  (then  Miss  Trelawney),  had  proposed 
marriage  to  the  lady;  and  though  she  had  dechned  the 
proposal  with  a  considerable  amount  of  raillery  and  smart 
repartee,  they  had  parted  most  excellent  friends.  It  is  true 
that  Venetia  was  fully  aware  of  Huntingdon's  having 
employed  Captain  Tash  to  watch  her  movements;  but  as 
she  had  subsequently  derived  a  positive  and  considerable 
advantage  (in  the  Malpas  affair)  from  that  circumstance, 
she  was  by  no  means  inclined  to  cherish  it  as  a  grudge 
against  the  baronet.  Moreover,  she  did  not  forget  that  he 
had  been  one  of  the  first  to  congratulate  her  at  St.  George's 
Church  upon  her  marriage.  Altogether  she  rather  liked  him, 
for  he  was  excessively  good-tempered,  and  we  have  already 
said  that  he  was  of  handsome  though  dissipated  appearance; 
but  then  it  was  that  pale  and  interesting  aspect  of  dissipation 
which  is  not  without  its  admirers  amongst  ladies  in  the 
fashionable  walks  of  life. 

From  these  observations  the  reader  will  not  be  sur- 
prised to  learn  that  Venetia  extended  her  hand  in  a  most 
friendly  manner  and  smiled  very  graciously  as  she  thus 
found  herself  face  to  face  with  the  baronet. 

''Ah!  Lady  Sackville,"  he  exclaimed,  evidently  astonished 
to  meet  her  in  that  anteroom.  ''It  is  always  a  pleasure  to 
encounter  you  anywhere;  but  may  I  ask  what  on  earth 
your  ladyship  is  doing  here?  " 

"  The  prince,  with  that  exquisite  taste  which  so  often 
characterizes  him,"  replied  Venetia,  an  expression  of  peculiar 
contempt  curling  her  lovely  lip,  "  brought  me  hither  to 
behold  some  drama  in  which  he  is  doubtless  to  perform 
the  principal  part." 

"  It  was  precisely  to  take  a  share  in  this  said  drama," 
observed  the  baronet,  "  that  the  prince  invited  me  hither 
also.  It  is  true  that  I  am  somewhat  behind  time;  but  I 
cannot  regret  a  delay  which  has  produced  me  the  pleasure 
of  meeting  your  ladyship." 

"  You  know,"  said  Venetia,  in  a  tone  of  good-humoured 
raillery,  "  that  I  always  take  compliments  for  precisely  what 
they  are  worth." 

"  If  the  syllables  which  fall  from  my  lips  were  diamonds," 
answered  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  "  they  would  still  be 
of  infinitely  too  poor  a  value  to  form  a  sentence  that  should 
adequately  proclaim  your  praise." 


214  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


That  is  assuredly  the  most  costly  flattery  that  has  ever 
yet  been  offered  up  to  me,"  observed  Lady  Sackville,  with 
one  of  her  sweetest  smiles.  But  are  you  not  going  to  enter 
the  room  where  your  presence  is  doubtless  wanted?  " 

I  would  much  rather  remain  here,  if  your  ladyship 
would  permit  me,"  replied  the  baronet,  his  looks  settling 
upon  her  with  an  admiration  which  though  fervid  was  full 
of  respect. 

"  I  cannot  possibly  refuse  such  agreeable  conpanionship," 
answered  Venetia;  and  suffering  her  eyes  to  linger  upon  him 
for  a  moment,  she  gave  him,  as  it  were,  that  coquettish 
kind  of  encouragement  which  may  in  reality  mean  nothing, 
but  which  an  enthusiastic  admirer  is  sure  to  interpret  far 
otherwise. 

But  will  you  remain  here?  "  asked  the  baronet,  glancing 
toward  the  door  leading  into  the  saloon. 

Most  assuredly,"  returned  Venetia.  I  am  anxious  to 
behold  this  drama  in  which  you  were  to  perform  a  part; 
and  there  can  certainly  be  no  harm  in  my  contemplating 
the  scene,  inasmuch  as  I  recognize  five  or  six  young  ladies  of 
the  highest  rank  about  to  join  in  the  diversions." 

While  thus  speaking.  Lady  Sackville  stooped  slightly 
down,  and  peeped  between  the  blinds.  Sir  Douglas  Hunting- 
don followed  her  example,  and  their  heads  thus  came  in 
gentle  contact.  The  baronet  was  not  likely  to  withdraw 
from  so  pleasant  a  vicinage,  and  Lady  Sackville  did  not. 
Their  heads  thus  remained  touching  each  other,  their  hair 
mingling;  and  in  this  position  did  they  contemplate  what 
was  passing  within  the  gorgeously  furnished  and  brilliantly 
lighted  saloon. 

The  young  ladies  of  aristocratic  birth  were  clad  in  the 
light  and  gauzy  apparel  of  figurantes,  with  their  hair  taste- 
fully arranged,  so  that  it  appeared  as  if  their  forms  were 
arrayed  and  their  toilet  chosen  with  a  view  to  produce  a 
dramatic  effect.  Very  beautiful  indeed  were  these  young 
ladies;  but  it  was  evident  from  their  burning  looks  and 
wanton  attitudes  that  modesty  with  them  was  but  a  garment 
of  convenience. 

A  strain  of  music  stole  softly  through  the  room,  issuing 
from  a  piano  the  position  of  which  was  unseen  by  Lady 
Sackville  and  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  at  the  glass  door; 
and  now  the  aristocratic  young  ladies  timed  their  graceful 


"LEANING  PENSIVELY  AGAINST  A  PILLAR" 

Photogravure  from  original  by  Bird, 


LORD  AND  LADY  SACKVILLE  215 


steps  to  that  delicious  harmony.  Taking  from  a  sideboard 
several  garlands  and  wreaths  of  artificial  flowers,  they  raised 
them  with  their  bare  arms  above  their  heads,  playing  with 
them,  as  it  were,  in  a  manner  that  enabled  them  to  show 
off  the  beauties  of  their  forms  in  attitudes  more  classically 
graceful,  more  studiously  indelicate,  than  the  most  reckless 
ballet-dancer  or  figurante  of  the  present  day.  Then  suddenly 
quickening  their  pace,  they  whirled  around  and  around 
the  prince,  flinging  the  garlands  and  the  posies  at  him, 
endeavouring  to  trip  him  up  with  the  wreaths,  and  finally 
making  him  the  butt  of  a  variety  of  practical  jokes,  more 
calculated,  however,  to  excite  than  to  hurt  him. 

On  his  side,  the  prince  regent  amused  himself  in  several 
ways.  Sometimes  he  raced  and  chased  after  the  young 
ladies,  at  others  he  threw  himself  panting  and  puffing  upon 
a  sofa,  one  of  the  aristocratic  beauties  acting  the  part  of 
Hebe  and  bringing  him  a  delicious  beverage  in  a  crystal 
cup.  Or  else  he  would  suddenly  assume  a  thoughtful  and 
sentimental  demeanour,  —  either  taking  a  seat  at  a  distance, 
or  else  leaning  pensively  against  a  pillar,  —  so  as  to  entice 
the  ladies  toward  him;  and  then,  as  they  gathered  around 
him  again,  he  would  abruptly  seize  hold  of  the  nearest, 
fling  his  arms  about  her,  and  cover  her  with  kisses,  amidst 
the  pealing  laughter  and  dehghted  cries  of  all  the  rest. 

For  upwards  of  ten  minutes  did  Lady  Sackville  and  Sir 
Douglas  Huntingdon  continue  peeping  through  the  bUnds, 
their  heads  still  remaining  in  that  contact  which  we  have 
before  noticed.  The  spectacle  within  the  saloon  was,  of  a 
surety,  sufficient  to  inflame  their  imaginations,  and  it  cer- 
tainly produced  this  effect.  Moreover,  on  the  one  hand.  Sir 
Douglas  Huntingdon  was  in  such  an  attitude  that  by  casting 
down  his  eyes  he  could  plunge  his  looks  amidst  the  treasures 
of  Venetia's  glowing  bust;  and  on  the  other  hand,  the  lady 
herself,  b}^  casting  an  occasional  sidelong  glance  at  her 
companion's  profile,  was  led  to  the  reflection  that  he  was 
really  much  handsomer  than  she  had  even  supposed  him  to 
be. 

What  think  you  of  that  spectacle? "  she  suddenly 
exclaimed,  raising  her  head  from  the  blinds,  and  as  her 
looks  met  those  of  the  baronet,  the  colour  deepened  upon 
her  cheeks. 

I  can  only  say  that  I  regret  we  have  not  some  artificial 


216  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


flowers  here  in  this  anteroom,"  replied  Sir  Douglas,  "  as 
your  ladyship  might  in  that  case  condescend  to  practise  the 
same  innocent  pastime  with  me." 

It  is  a  punishment,  and  not  as  a  jest,  that  I  throw  this 
at  thee,"  exclaimed  Venetia,  suddenly  detaching  a  bouquet 
from  the  corsage  of  her  dress  and  tossing  it  toward  the 
baronet. 

''Ah!  then  it  is  as  a  revenge,  and  not  as  a  mere  insolent 
liberty,  that  I  treat  your  ladyship  thus,"  returned  the 
baronet;  and  suddenly  throwing  his  arms  around  Venetians 
neck,  he  pressed  his  lips  to  hers. 

She  received  the  caress  without  resentment,  certainly, 
although  perhaps  she  did  not  exactly  return  it.  But  in 
the  look  which  she  flung  upon  the  baronet,  as  she  disengaged 
herself  from  his  arms,  there  was  something  which  elevated 
his  hopes  to  a  frenzied  height. 

''  Begone  now,"  she  said,  hastily.  "  Let  not  the  prince 
suppose  that  you  have  been  lingering  here  with  me." 

This  very  remark  at  once  seemed  to  place  the  lady  and 
the  baronet  upon  the  most  famiUar  footing,  by  implying, 
as  it  were,  that  a  secret  had  suddenly  sprung  into  existence 
between  them.  Intoxicated  with  the  thought  that  Venetia, 
the  brilhant,  beauteous,  incomparable  Venetia,  would  yet 
bestow  her  favours  upon  him,  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon 
snatched  up  her  hand,  pressed  it  to  his  lips,  and  then  hurried 
from  the  room. 

Almost  immediately  afterward  the  prince  came  forth  from 
the  saloon,  carefully  closing  the  glass  door  behind  him; 
and  perceiving  Venetia's  flushed  cheeks  and  palpitating 
bosom,  he  attributed  her  excitement  to  no  other  cause  than 
the  voluptuous  spectacle  which  he  had  indeed  purposely 
brought  her  hither  to  view  in  the  hope  that  it  would  inflame 
her  passions  to  a  maddening  height. 

"  Come  with  me,  adored  one,"  he  murmured,  as  he  pressed 
his  mouth  to  those  lips  that  still  bore  the  imprint  of  the 
baronet's  far  more  welcome  caress;  then  fixing  upon  her 
a  look  all  burning  with  desire,  the  royal  voluptuary  led  his 
mistress  away  to  his  own  suite  of  apartments. 


CHAPTER  XIX 


THE  king's  bench 

At  the  period  of  which  we  are  writing,  the  authority  of 
the  Secretary  of  State  had  not  invaded  the  King's  Bench 
Prison  with  those  innovations,  encroachments,  and  changes 
which  have  since  robbed  that  estabhshment  of  all  its  peculiar 
glory.  The  immense  enclosure  had  not  then  been  divided 
into  different  compartments  and  yards  respectively  appro- 
priated for  the  degrees  and  grades  of  insolvency  and  indebt- 
edness; but  the  Bench  was  then  indeed  in  its  glory,  as  the 
cesspool  of  the  West  End  of  London. 

Resembling  an  enormous  barrack  standing  in  the  midst 
of  spacious  grounds,  girt  by  a  wall  of  the  same  height  as  the 
edifice  itself,  and  covered  with  those  revolving  iron  spikes 
that  are  technically  termed  chevaux-de-frise,  having  also 
several  detached  buildings,  such  as  the  state  house,  the 
coffee-house,  and  the  kitchen,  and  with  the  principal  portion 
of  the  grounds  themselves  divided  into  racket-courts,  — 
such  was  the  King's  Bench  Prison. 

But  there  were  many  features  connected  with  the  place 
which  were  celebrated  then,  have  been  celebrated  until 
very  late  years,  and  still  remain  doubtless  memorable  in 
the  minds  of  thousands  and  thousands  who  have  passed 
through  the  ordeal  of  captivity  there.  For  instance,  there 
was  the  strong  room,  in  which  obstreperous  prisoners  were 
confined,  the  chapel,  where  the  parson  preached  to  the  clerk, 
and  the  clerk  said  "  amen  "  to  the  parson,  for  want  of  a 
congregation,  the  little  market-place  close  by  the  kitchen, 
and  the  three  pumps  which  marked  the  hmits  of  each  racket- 
ground,  the  central  pump  being  dignified  with  the  name  of 
the  Dolphin.  Then  there  was  the  Tap,  where  the  genuine 
beverage  brewed  by  Barclay  and  Perkins  found  shoals  of 

217 


218  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


customers  from  morning  to  night;  and  at  the  other  extremity 
of  the  building,  there  was  another  pubUc-room  for  the  sale 
of  beer,  and  bearing  the  sign  of  the  Brace.  Moreover,  in 
the  coffee-house  there  was  an  apartment  enjoying  the  aris- 
tocratic distinction  of  the  wine-room,  although  considerably 
smaller  and  a  trifle  less  comfortable  than  the  parlour  of 
a  fifth-rate  pot-house  out-of-doors. 

These  and  several  other  features  connected  with  the 
Bench  are  cherished  in  the  memories  of  thousands  and 
thousands  up  to  the  present  day;  and  now,  as  some  old 
prisoner  takes  his  lonely  walk  up  and  down  the  melancholy 
parade,  he  sighs  as  he  recalls  to  recollection  those  times 
when  that  parade  and  the  adjacent  racket-grounds  were 
swarming  with  life,  when  the  whole  scene  was  rather  that 
of  a  fair  than  of  a  prison,  and  when  the  voices  of  revellers 
in  the  Tap,  players  and  bettors  at  racket,  merry  fellows 
shouting  from  the  windows,  and  itinerant  venders  of  all 
kinds  of  comestibles,  mingled  strangely  together  and  filled 
the  air. 

There  were,  also,  until  late  years,  some  curious  characters 
within  the  walls  of  the  King's  Bench  Prison.  First  and 
foremost  was  a  stout,  bluff-looking,  red-faced  man,  not 
unlike  a  sailor  in  his  build  and  rolling  walk.  This  was 
Yorke,  the  crier,  whose  avocations  consisted  in  escorting 
visitors  to  the  rooms  of  friends  whom  they  came  to  see, 
crying  things  that  were  lost,  or  making  announcements  of 
festivities  that  were  to  take  place  either  at  the  Tap  or  the 
Brace,  and  performing  all  kinds  of  odd  jobs  for  anybody 
who  was  able  to  pay  him.  Next,  as  the  presiding  genius  of 
the  Market-place,  might  be  seen  a  tall,  gaunt,  scraggy  old 
woman,  with  a  very  weather-beaten  face  and  a  nose  and 
chin  that  nearly  met,  Hke  the  profile  of  old  Mother  Hub- 
bard in  the  picture-books.  The  female  of  whom  we  are 
speaking  was  known  as  Old  Nanny;  and  she  sold  fish, 
vegetables,  and  anything  else  by  which  she  could  turn  a 
decent  penny."  She  generally  wore  either  a  man's  great- 
coat or  else  an  old  brown  cloak;  and  a  black  bonnet,  as  rusty 
as  a  japanned  coal-scuttle  that  has  been  very  much  neglected, 
was  perched  so  airly  and  jauntily  on  the  top  of  her  head 
that  one  would  really  have  thought  Old  Nanny  was  a 
coquette  in  her  way. 

In  a  sentry-box  at  the  entrance  of  the  innermost  lobby 


THE  KING'S  BENCH 


219 


invariably  stood  from  morning  to  night  a  most  dreadful- 
looking  old  man,  with  his  face  twisting  itself  up  into  all 
kinds  of  malignant,  spiteful,  and  ferocious  expressions.  He 
wore  upon  his  head  a  great  fur  cap  which  gave  him,  when 
viewed  from  a  considerable  distance,  a  false  air  of  the  lord 
mayor's  swordbearer.  This  nasty-looking  veteran  prisoner 
was  called  Old  Sims,  and  he  posted  himself  in  that  sentry- 
box  that  he  might  obtain  alms  from  visitors  entering  the 
place,  to  attract  whose  notice  he  was  wont  to  shake  a  few 
pence  in  a  great  tin  box  with  a  hole  in  the  top  to  receive 
any  additional  pence  which  the  hand  of  benevolence  might 
drop  in. 

Several  other  remarkable  characters  were  there;  and  to 
a  newcomer  entering  the  place  as  a  prisoner,  as  well  as  to 
every  one  having  business  there  as  a  visitor,  were  all  the 
above  local  features  and  human  curiosities  duly  pointed  out. 
Of  the  latter  species  we  must  not  forget  to  observe  that 
there  were  several  rare  specimens  in  the  shape  of  gentlemen 
who  had  been  there  for  ten,  twenty,  or  even  thirty  years, 
and  who  could  get  out  at  any  moment  they  chose,  but 
who  unaccountably  preferred  dwelling  within  those  spike- 
crowned  walls. 

Such  was  the  King's  Bench  in  the  time  of  which  we  are 
writing;  and  indeed,  the  description  would  hold  good  down 
to  a  period  of  about  eight  or  ten  years  ago.  But,  as  we  have 
above  hinted,  the  ruthless  hand  of  official  authority  sud- 
denly annihilated  all  indulgences  and  liberties  with  one 
fell  swoop.  Were  an  equally  sweeping  reform  to  be  applied 
to  all  the  great  institutions  of  this  country,  incalculable 
advantages  would  be  the  speedy  result. 

On  being  arrested  at  the  suit  of  Mr.  Emmerson,  the 
bill-broker,  for  the  sum  of  five  thousand  guineas.  Colonel 
Malpas  was  borne  off  to  the  sponging-house  of  Mr.  Moses 
Ikey  in  Fetter  Lane.  There  he  remained  for  nearly  three 
weeks,  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  come  to  a  settlement 
with  his  creditor;  but  vainly  did  he  apply  to  his  wife's 
relations;  they  sent  him  no  answer.  Vainly  also  did  he 
address  himself  to  some  of  his  fashionable  friends.  The 
affair  at  the  banquet  and  the  chastisement  he  received 
from  Captain  Tash  had  got  whispered  abroad,  and  the 
colonel  found  himself  cut  accordingly.  The  propositions 
which  he  made  to  Mr.  Emmerson  were  likewise  treated 


220  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


with  silent  contempt;  and  when  he  wrote  a  letter  full  of 
penitence  to  the  Countess  of  Curzon,  it  was  returned  to  him. 
unopened  in  a  blank  envelope,  the  handwriting  of  the 
address  having  been  to  her  ladyship  a  sufficient  indication 
from  whom  the  missive  came. 

Perceiving,  therefore,  that  he  had  no  immediate  chances 
of  extricating  himself  from  his  difficulties,  and  finding  it 
too  expensive  to  remain  any  longer  at  the  establishment  of 
Mr.  Moses  Ikey,  where  the  meanest  and  nastiest  fare  was 
served  up  at  the  dearest  and  most  exorbitant  rate,  the 
colonel  resolved  to  move  over  to  the  King's  Bench.  His 
solicitor  accordingly  obtained  the  necessary  writ  of  habeas 
corpus;  the  colonel  and  his  portmanteau  were  consigned 
to  a  hackney-coach,  under  the  care  of  a  tipstaff;  and  in 
due  course  the  aforesaid  colonel  and  portmanteau  were 
deposited  in  the  upper  lobby  of  the  far-famed  prison.  There 
he  was  at  once  called  upon  to  pay  a  certain  amount  for 
gate-fees;  and  having  done  this,  it  was  suggested  to  him 
that  "  all  gentlemen  as  called  themselves  gentlemen  were 
accustomed  to  behave  as  sich  and  treat  the  turnkeys.'^ 
To  this  further  drain  upon  his  exchequer  the  colonel  like- 
wise submitted;  and  he  enjoyed  the  supreme  satisfaction 
of  having  his  health  drunk  by  the  three  thirsty-looking 
turnkeys  belonging  to  the  upper  lobby,  and  the  two  hungry 
and  thirsty-looking  turnkeys  annexed  to  the  lower  lobby. 

He  was  now  escorted  to  the  coffee-house,  where,  upon 
inquiry,  he  found  that  he  could  be  accommodated  with  a 
bedroom,  which  bedroom,  upon  inspection,  turned  out  to 
be  about  the  same  dimensions  as  an  ordinary  clothes- 
press.  However,  the  colonel  was  compelled  to  submit  to 
the  necessity  of  the  case;  and  it  being  now  five  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  he  inquired  what  he  could  have  for  dinner. 
The  reply  was  anything  he  chose  to  order;  "  but  it  sub- 
sequently proved  that  a  steak  or  a  chop  would  come  most 
conveniently  within  the  culinary  capabilities  of  the  estab- 
lishment. 

Having  accordingly  agreed  upon  the  materials  for  his 
dinner,  the  colonel  sat  down,  dolefully  and  despondingly 
enough,  to  read  the  newspaper  in  the  wine-room.  But 
scarcely  had  he  commenced  the  perusal  of  a  ponderous 
leading  article  on  nothing  at  all,  when  he  was  startled  by 
the  sudden  bursting  forth  of  a  stentorian  voice  just  outside 


THE  KING'S  BENCH 


221 


the  window.  He  listened,  and  heard  the  following  announce- 
ment duly  and  deliberately  made: 

Oyes!  Oyes!  Oyes!  This  is  to  give  notice  that  if  any- 
body has  found  an  old  pair  of  black  breeches,  new  seated, 
which  was  took  from  the  winder  of  MacHugh  the  tailor's 
room,  Number  3  in  10  Staircase,  and  will  bring  them  to 
the  crier^  he  shall  receive  a  pot  of  half-an'-half  for  his 
trouble  and  no  questions  axed.    God  save  the  king!  " 

Old  Yorke  —  for  he  it  was  who  gave  forth  this  very 
interesting  and  exciting  announcement  —  paused  for  a 
few  moments,  cleared  his  voice  from  a  little  huskiness  that 
had  seized  upon  it  through  too  powerful  a  vociferation, 
and  then  communicated  another  piece  of  intelligence  to 
the  admiring  denizens  of  the  Bench : 

Oyes!  Oyes!  Oyes!  Know  ye  all  whom  it  may  consarn, 
and  take  notice,  that  a  Free-and-easy  will  be  held  to-night 
in  the  Brace,  for  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Peter  Sniggles,  who  had 
the  misfortune  to  cut  his  head  open  by  falling  dead  drunk 
down  No.  10  Staircase.  The  cheer  will  be  taken  by  Mr. 
Joseph  Tubbs  at  eight  o'clock  precisely,  when  several 
comic  songs  and  other  wocal  harmony  will  take  place. 
God  save  the  king!  " 

Old  Yorke  then  passed  on  from  the  vicinage  of  the  coffee- 
house to  repeat  the  announcements  in  other  parts  of  the 
building;  and  the  colonel  learned  from  the  waiter  who 
brought  in  his  dinner  that  those  announcements  were  really 
genuine  and  seriously  meant,  and  not  a  mere  hoax,  as 
Malpas  had  at  first  imagined  them  to  be. 

Having  partaken  of  his  meal,  and  while  sipping  the 
first  glass  of  an  execrable  pint  of  port,  the  colonel  was 
informed  by  the  waiter  that  a  gentleman  wished  to  speak 
to  him. 

Who  is  he?  "  inquired  Malpas. 
"  Well,  sir,  he's  a  lawyer  as  is  well  known  in  this  here 
place,"  answered  the  waiter,  "  and  does  a  sight  of  business 
for  genelmen  in  difficulties.   He  whispered  to  me  that  he 
could  get  you  out  of  quod  in  three  or  four  days  —  " 

Indeed!  "  ejaculated  Malpas,  his  countenance  brighten- 
ing up.    "  What  is  his  name?  " 

Mr.  Joshua  Jenkins,"  answered  the  waiter.  "  Shall 
I  tell  him  to  walk  in?  " 

By  all  means,"  responded  the  colonel;   "  and  bring 


222  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


a  clean  glass,  as  perhaps  Mr.  Jenkins  will  do  me  the  favour 
to  take  some  wine  with  me.'' 

The  waiter  slid  out  of  the  room  with  a  most  praiseworthy- 
alacrity,  considering  that  he  had  to  drag  with  him  a  pair 
of  shoes  down  at  the  heels  and  a  great  deal  too  large  for 
his  feet.  In  a  few  minutes  he  returned,  escorting  a  short, 
seedy-looking  individual,  with  very  dirty  linen  and  an 
unmistakable  Jewish  countenance.  In  fact,  the  personal 
appearance  of  this  gentleman  was  by  no  means  such  as 
would  have  induced  a  cautious  individual  to  trust  him  to 
get  change  for  a  five-pound  note.  The  colonel,  therefore, 
surprised  and  disgusted  at  this  unpromising  aspect  of  the 
man  of  business,  received  him  in  a  somewhat  frigid  and 
haughty  fashion,  just  barely  inviting  him  to  be  seated,  but 
not  choosing  to  take  any  notice  of  the  circumstance  of  an 
extra  glass  being  placed  upon  the  table.  Mr.  Joshua 
Jenkins  was,  however,  a  gentleman  of  the  free  and 
easy  school;  and  at  once  drawing  a  chair  close  up  to  the 
table,  he  observed,  Well,  colonel,  so  you  are  lumbered  at 
last!  " 

You  speak  as  if  you  knew  me,  sir,"  remarked  Malpas, 
surveying  him  with  undisguised  disgust. 

Oh,  I  know  everybody  by  name  about  town,"  replied 
Mr.  Joshua  Jenkins,  with  a  cunning  leer;  and  therefore 
it  was  not  likely  that  the  fashionable  name  of  Malpas 
should  remain  strange  to  me.  In  fact,  I  knew  when  you 
was  locked  up  over  at  Ikey's;  and  I  should  have  come  to 
see  you  there,  but  I  thought  by  your  stopping  at  such  a 
place  you  was  making  arrangements  to  get  out.  Now, 
however,  that  you  have  come  over  here,  I  thought  it  high 
time  to  introduce  myself.  So  here's  better  luck  to  you, 
colonel,"  added  Mr.  Jenkins,  coolly  filling  the  glass  and 
raising  it  to  his  lips;  then,  with  a  familiar  nod  across  the 
table,  he  tossed  off  the  contents. 

And  pray,  sir,"  inquired  the  colonel,  sinking  back 
perfectly  aghast  at  this  King's  Bench  ease  and  hail-fellow- 
well-met  unceremoniousness,  and  pray,  sir,"  he  repeated, 
in  his  usual  drawling  tone,  "  what  can  you  do  for  me?  " 

"  Get  you  out  of  quod,"  replied  Jenkins,  with  a  knowing 
wink,  as  he  refilled  his  glass. 

Do  you,  then,  know  anybody  who  is  likely  to  lend  me 
five  thousand  guineas?  "  inquired  Malpas,  surveying  the 


THE  KING'S  BENCH 


223 


seedy-looking  lawyer  with  an  expression  of  mingled  incre- 
dulity and  superciliousness. 

Not  I  indeed,"  returned  Jenkins.  "  I  suppose  you 
would  not  pay  the  debt  if  you  could;  but  would  rather  get 
out,  snap  your  fingers  at  your  creditor,  run  over  to  France, 
and  make  him  take  a  farthing  in  the  pound.'' 

But  is  it  possible  to  manage  this?  "  exclaimed  Malpas, 
somewhat  staggered  by  the  air  of  decision  which  the  attorney 
assumed. 

To  be  sure  it  is,"  was  the  still  more  positive  response. 
"  And  how?  "  demanded  Malpas,  looking  and  speaking 
more  civilly. 

By  bail,"  rejoined  Mr.  Jenkins;  and  he  tossed  off  two 
glasses  of  wine  in  rapid  succession. 

''Ah!  I  have  heard,  by  the  bye,  that  something  could  be 
done  in  this  way,"  said  Malpas,  catching  eagerly  at  the 
suggestion. 

''To  be  sure  it  can,"  continued  the  attorney.  Then, 
tapping  his  prominent  nose  with  his  very  dirty  forefinger, 
and  looking  what  may  be  termed  greasily  knowing  with 
his  oily  countenance,  he  said,  "  You  are  arrested  on  mesne 
process;  and  of  course  by  putting  in  an  appearance  and 
plea  you  can  keep  off  judgment.  Well,  then,  by  appearing 
to  the  writ  it  is  as  much  as  to  say  that  you  mean  to  defend 
the  action  and  go  to  trial;  and  by  meaning  to  go  to  trial, 
you  can  put  in  bail  in  the  interval.  This  is  what  is  called 
justifying;  and  it's  easy  done  now,  as  the  bail  would  have 
to  go  before  the  judge  in  chambers." 

"  But  I  cannot  get  any  two  persons  to  put  bail  in  for  me 
to  such  an  amount,"  observed  Malpas.  "  Remember  that 
I  am  detained  here  for  five  thousand  guineas." 

"  Well,  and  you  must  have  two  bail  each  able  to  prove 
himself  worth  ten  thousand,"  returned  Mr.  Jenkins. 

"  Two  men  worth  twenty  thousand  guineas  between 
them!  "  ejaculated  Malpas,  in  despair.  "  I  cannot  obtain 
such  security." 

"  But  I  can,"  said  Mr.  Jenkins,  slyly  and  drily. 

"  You  can?  "  ejaculated  Malpas,  starting  with  joy. 

"  Yes,  to  be  sure,"  responded  Jenkins.  "  In  fact,  I  brought 
in  with  me  just  now  a  couple  of  bail  for  you  to  look  at;  and 
I  think  they  are  just  the  very  thing." 

"  Good  heavens!  "  cried  the  colonel,  in  amazement;  "  do 


224  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


you  inspect  bail  in  the  Bench  just  as  you  do  horses  at 
Tattersall's?  " 

"  Ay,  and  a  precious  sight  keener,  too,  when  you  want  to 
see  whether  they  will  pass  muster,"  said  Mr.  Jenkins.  "  So 
if  you  like  to  give  me  a  hundred  guineas,  —  that  is  to  say, 
forty  for  each  of  the  bail  to  put  in  their  pockets,  and  twenty 
for  myself,  —  the  job  shall  be  done;  and  in  less  than  a  week 
you  shall  be  out." 

"  But  is  it  possible,"  cried  the  colonel,  more  and  more 
bewildered,  that  any  two  wealthy  gentlemen,  worth  ten 
thousand  guineas  each,  can  be  moved  by  such  a  paltry 
consideration  as  forty  pounds  to  incur  so  vast  a  risk  on  my 
account?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Mr.  Jenkins,  with  a  peculiar  smile;  the 
two  chaps  that  I  have  got  along  with  me  here  this  evening 
would  bail  the  devil  if  he  would  only  pay  them  for  it." 

"  You  surprise  me!  "  cried  the  colonel.  "  But  where  are 
these  two  immensely  rich  money-making  gentlemen?  " 

"  I  left  them  in  the  Tap,  eating  bread  and  cheese  and 
onions;  and  I  paid  for  a  pot  of  half-and-half  for  them 
to  enjoy  themselves,"  coolly  answered  Mr.  Joshua  Jenkins. 

The  colonel  started  with  the  sudden  indignation  of  one 
who  thought  he  was  being  bantered;  but  as  a  sudden  idea 
struck  him  and  the  real  truth  flashed  to  his  comprehension, 
he  said: 

"  I  suppose,  then,  that  these  people  are  what  you  call 
straw  bail?  " 

"  Just  so,"  replied  Mr.  Jenkins.  I  am  astonished  you 
did  not  twig  it  all  along.  Lord  bless  you,  it's  as  easily  done 
as  possible.  I'll  give  you  a  proof.  About  a  year  ago  a  noble- 
man owing  three  thousand  pounds  was  arrested  by  Simon 
the  money-lender  up  at  the  West  End.  The  nobleman's 
father  offered  Simon  fifteen  shillings  in  the  pound;  but 
Simon  obstinately  refused  anything  less  than  the  whole. 
Well,  so  the  nobleman  sent  for  me.  I  dressed  up  a  tinker  and 
a  dog's  meat  man  in  fine  clothes,  paid  their  rates  and  taxes 
for  them,  took  them  up  before  a  judge,  made  them  swear 
they  were  each  worth  six  thousand  pounds,  and  so  justified 
bail  for  the  young  nobleman.  He  was  let  out  and  bolted 
to  Guernsey,  where  he  remained  while  I  made  terms  with 
Simon  for  him.  And  now,  sir,  how  much  do  you  think  that 
Simon  was  glad  to  take,  after  all?  " 


THE  KING'S  BENCH 


225 


I  really  can't  say,"  returned  Malpas;  "  perhaps  seven 
and  sixpence  in  the  pound?  " 

"  Nonsense!  "  ejaculated  Mr.  Jenkins.  "  I  made  him  take 
five  farthings  in  the  pound  and  stand  a  bottle  of  wine  into 
the  bargain.  So  you  see  how  easy  these  kind  of  things  can 
be  done." 

I  do,  indeed,"  replied  the  colonel.  But  is  it  possible 
that  the  judge  could  be  so  easily  duped?  " 

Not  he! "  exclaimed  the  attorney.  His  lordship 
knows  devilish  well  that  when  bail  go  up  to  justify  for  ten 
thousand  pounds,  they  are  not  really  worth  ten  pence; 
he  knows,  too,  that  the  very  clothes  they  wear  at  the  time 
are  only  lent  them  for  the  occasion;  but  he  is  obliged  to  take 
their  oaths  that  they  are  worth  so  much,  provided  the 
solicitor  on  the  other  side  can't  show  the  contrary.  And  we 
take  devilish  good  care,  colonel,  that  nothing  of  the  kind 
shall  be  shown  at  all.  Why,  would  you  believe  it,  I  have  had 
that  tinker  and  that  dog's  meat  man  up  for  bail  so  often,  any 
time  during  these  last  fourteen  years,  that  their  faces  are 
as  well  known  to  every  one  of  the  judges  and  every  one  of  the 
judges'  clerks  as  they  are  to  me  or  to  their  own  wives;  and 
it  is  really  quite  amusing  to  see  how  solemnly  the  judge 
always  looks  these  fellows  in  the  face,  as  if  he  had  never  seen 
them  before  in  all  his  life,  and  how  he  appears  to  take  in 
as  gospel  all  they  tell  him  about  their  immense  resources. 
But  I  don't  always  take  up  the  same  bail;  that  would  be 
coming  it  rather  too  strong,  particularly  as  there  is  always 
something  different  as  to  their  profession  or  trade  every 
time  they  do  go  up.  I  have  got  a  dog-fancier,  —  I  might 
even  call  him  a  dog-stealer,  without  telling  a  lie,  —  and 
he's  a  capital  bail,  with  the  impudence  of  brass.  The  week 
before  last  he  went  up,  and  the  judge  says,  '  Well,  sir,  what 
are  you?  '  '  A  merchant,  my  lud,'  was  the  prompt  answer; 
and  then  he  went  on  to  describe  of  what  his  merchandise 
consisted,  heaping  together  more  silks,  brocades,  and  costly 
stuffs  than  you  read  of  in  the  Arabian  Nights.  Well,  last 
week  he  went  up  again;  and  it  happened  to  be  the  same 
judge  in  chambers.  '  Now,  sir,  what  are  you?  '  asked  the 
judge,  looking  for  all  the  world  as  if  he  had  never  seen  such 
a  face  before.  '  I  am  a  farmer  and  grazier  in  Scotland,  my 
lud,'  was  the  dog-fancier's  instantaneous  reply;  and  he 
went  on  to  describe  the  thousand  head  of  cattle  that  grazed 


226  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


upon  his  hills,  and  the  ten  thousand  sheep  that  fed  upon 
his  pastures.  So  of  course  it  was  all  right  again.  Well,  at 
the  beginning  of  this  week  I  took  him  up  once  more;  and 
it  happened  to  be  the  very  selfsame  judge  as  on  the  two 
former  occasions.  '  Now,  sir,  what  are  you?  '  asked  his 
lordship,  so  polite  and  civil  as  if  he  no  more  saw  through  the 
dodge  than  the  babe  unborn.  '  I  am  an  Oporto  wine-mer- 
chant, my  lud,'  replied  the  dog-fancier,  coolly;  and  he  went 
on  to  describe  how  he  had  got  fifty  pipes  of  port  wine  in 
the  Channel  Islands,  ready  for  the  English  market,  and  how 
he  had  already  refused  sixty  guineas  apiece  for  them.  Of 
course  he  was  accepted;  and  so  you  see,  Colonel  Malpas,  that 
I  am  pretty  successful  in  the  bail  that  I  take  up.  In  fact, 
I  can  give  you  plenty  of  references  to  prove  that  I  am  the  best 
straw  bail  agent  in  London.  And  now,  with  your  permis- 
sion, I'll  ring  the  bell  for  another  pint  of  wine." 

No  sooner  said  than  done;  the  wine  was  brought,  and 
while  Mr.  Joshua  Jenkins  discussed  it,  the  bargain  was 
confirmed  relative  to  the  bail  by  the  colonel  paying  twenty 
guineas  down  and  agreeing  to  deposit  eighty  more  in  the 
hands  of  the  master  of  the  coffee-house,  to  be  duly  handed 
over  to  Mr.  Jenkins  aforesaid  on  the  bail  passing  the  scrutiny 
of  the  judge.  Mr.  Jenkins  then  took  his  leave;  and  Colonel 
Malpas  remained  for  a  short  time  alone,  to  ponder  over 
the  singular  statements  he  had  heard  from  the  lips  of  the 
lawyer. 

But  in  a  few  minutes  the  door  was  suddenly  burst  open, 
and  five  or  six  individuals,  of  shabby-genteel  appearance, 
rushed  one  upon  the  heels  of  another  into  the  wine-room. 
They  evidently  thought  that  this  noisy  and  unceremonious 
mode  of  entrance  was  highly  diverting,  for  they  laughed 
boisterously  as  they  flung  themselves  upon  the  benches  at  the 
table  nearest  to  that  where  the  colonel  was  sitting. 

Almost  immediately  afterward  the  waiter  made  his  ap- 
pearance, saying,  "  Now,  genelmen,  give  your  orders,"  but 
in  a  tone  which  showed  that  he  did  not  highly  admire  his 
customers. 

''Well,  what  shall  it  be?  "  cried  one,  appealing  to  his 
companions. 

"  Oh,  glasses  of  negus  around,"  said  another.  ''  There 
are  six  of  us.  Come,  waiter,  half  a  dozen  glasses  of  negus. 
Look  sharp!  " 


THE  KING'S  BENCH 


227 


Oh,  yes,  sir,  I  am  looking  sharp  enough,"  responded 
the  waiter;  but  I  want  to  see  the  money  before  I  serve 
the  lush." 

What  cursed  infernal  impudence!  "  ejaculated  the  one 
who  had  first  spoken.  Who  the  devil  ever  thinks  of 
asking  a  gentleman  for  money?  For  my  part,"  he  added, 
I  have  left  my  purse  up  in  my  room,  which  is  deuced 
imprudent,  by  the  bye,  seeing  it  is  full  of  gold  and  bank- 
notes." 

And  as  for  my  purse,"  remarked  another  of  the  delectable 
party,  fumbling  in  his  pocket,  "  it  has  got  through  a  hole 
down  into  the  linings  of  my  breeches,  and  I  sha'n't  be  able 
to  fish  it  up  until  I  take  my  small-clothes  off.  It's  deuced 
provoking,  for  I've  got  at  least  five  pounds  of  small  change 
in  it,  and  should  have  been  delighted  to  stand  treat." 

Well,  upon  my  word,  we  seem  to  be  out  of  luck,"  ex- 
claimed the  third  member  of  the  party,  for  I've  got  nothing 
but  a  bank-note  for  a  hundred  guineas,"  he  continued, 
drawing  out  an  old  brown  silk  purse  with  a  playbill  rustling 
in  one  end;  and  there's  no  chance  of  getting  change  for 
such  a  heavy  piece  of  flimsy  in  this  place  to-night." 

Deuce  take  it!  "  cried  a  fourth;  if  I  had  known  that 
you  were  all  exposed  to  such  inconveniences  as  these,  I 
would  not  have  lent  that  twenty  guineas  just  now  to  Lord 
Smigsmag.  But  really  it  was  impossible  to  refuse  his  lordship 
under  the  circumstances." 

Oh,"  exclaimed  the  fifth,  don't  make  yourselves 
uneasy.  I've  got  plenty  of  money  about  me,"  and  thus 
speaking,  he  thrust  his  hands  with  all  confidence  into  his 
breeches'  pocket.  Then  suddenly  starting  as  if  alarmed 
by  a  chimney  falling  or  a  cry  of  fire,  he  vociferated,  By 
heavens!  I  have  lost  my  purse,  I  have  lost  my  purse!  " 
and  he  affected  to  be  in  a  tremendous  rage. 

Now,  was  there  ever  anything  so  regularly  unfortunate?  " 
exclaimed  the  sixth  member  of  this  precious  group,  drawing 
forth  the  remains  of  a  cheque-book  from  which  a  great  num- 
ber of  drafts  had  been  cut  out.  Here  am  I,  not  only  able 
but  also  willing  to  write  you  a  cheque  for  a  cool  hundred  or 
two,  just  as  you  like;  but  now  it  is  after  business  hours  in 
Lombard  Street,  and  so  it's  all  the  same  as  if  I  had  not 
a  twopenny-piece  in  all  the  world  at  my  banker's." 

Well,  it  raly  is  wery  provoking,"  exclaimed  the  waiter, 


228  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


with  a  covert  sarcasm  in  his  tone,  "  to  see  six  genelmen  all  so 
well-to-do  in  their  circumstances  and  so  full  of  blunt  as  you 
are,  and  not  able  just  at  this  present  speaking  to  raise  six 
shillings  betw^een  you  all." 

"  It  is  provoking  —  very,"  said  one  of  the  party,  looking 
full  at  Malpas;  "  and  if  I  knew  anybody  who  would  just 
lend  me  as  much  as  six  shillings  till  to-morrow  morning, 
I  would  send  them  in  to  him  with  my  card  and  a  note  of 
thanks  just  as  he  sat  down  to  his  breakfast." 

The  colonel,  who  was  too  wide-awake  not  to  see  through 
the  characters  of  the  six  gentlemen,  made  no  remark,  and 
indeed  affected  not  to  observe  that  any  hint  had  been  thrown 
out  toward  himself. 

"  Did  you  speak,  sir?  "  said  the  foremost  of  the  party, 
now  boldly  addressing  the  colonel,  but  with  a  very  bland 
look  and  polite  bow. 

No,  sir,  I  said  nothing,"  replied  Malpas,  somewhat 
sulkily. 

"  There,  by  heavens!  the  gentleman  is  a  trump,"  vocifer- 
ated the  previous  speaker.  "  He  offers  to  treat  us  to  glasses 
of  negus  around.  Come,  waiter,  look  alive;  the  gentleman 
is  anxious  to  pay  his  footing,  and  we  are  anxious  to  drink 
his  health." 

The  colonel  was  so  taken  aback  by  the  cool  impudence 
of  this  proceeding  that  he  could  not  return  a  negative  to  the 
inquiring  look  which  the  waiter  threw  upon  him;  and  this 
functionary,  acting  upon  the  principle  that  silence  gives 
consent,  at  once  shuffled  away  to  execute  the  order. 

"  Newcomer,  sir?  "  said  one  of  the  party  to  the  colonel. 

"  Yes,  I  am  sorry  to  say  so,"  responded  Malpas,  not 
deeming  it  prudent  to  treat  his  fellow  prisoners  with  any 
marked  coolness. 

Going  to  stay  here  long?  "  asked  another. 
In  for  much?  "  blandly  inquired  a  third. 

"  Going  through  the  court?  "  mildly  asked  a  fourth. 

"  Or  going  to  bail  out?  "  said  a  fifth. 

"  If  you  stay  here  any  time,"  observed  the  sixth,  "  you'll 
want  a  room.  Now,  as  there  are  only  about  a  hundred  and 
twenty  rooms  in  the  place,  each  not  large  enough  to  swing 
a  cat  in,  and  seven  hundred  prisoners  to  live  in  them  all, 
it's  rather  a  difiicult  thing  to  get  a  room  to  oneself  at  any 
price.   But  as  you  seem  to  be  a  regular  gentleman  and  are 


THE  KING'S  BENCH 


229 


standing  this  negus  in  so  handsome  a  manner,  I  shouldn't 
mind  letting  you  have  my  room  for  about  a  couple  of  guineas 
a  week." 

But  before  the  colonel  had  leisure  to  answer  a  single  one 
of  the  above  questions,  or  give  any  reply  to  the  proposal 
concerning  the  room,  the  waiter  made  his  appearance  with 
the  negus;  and  the  conversation  thereupon  seemed  to  take 
a  new  impulse  and  flow  into  a  variety  of  other  channels. 

"  Now,  my  good  fellow,"  said  the  foremost  of  the  party, 
addressing  himself  to  the  colonel  in  terms  as  famihar  as  if 
he  had  known  him  from  childhood,  "  while  drinking  your 
health  I  must  beg  of  you  not  to  take  on  too  much  on  account 
of  this  imprisonment.  Lord  bless  you!  it's  nothing  when 
you  are  accustomed  to  it.   Look  at  me  now." 

Colonel  Malpas  did  as  he  was  desired,  but  could  not  help 
thinking  that  there  was  nothing  very  agreeable  or  pleasant 
to  contemplate  in  the  appearance  of  a  bloated,  dissipated, 
rakish-looking  fellow,  with  long,  dry,  dirty  hair,  and  Unen 
that  seemed  to  imply  that  he  had  forfeited  the  confidence 
of  his  washerwoman. 

"  Well,  you  see  me?  "  continued  this  individual;  "  and 
such  as  you  see  me,  so  I  am,"  he  added,  thus  enunciating 
a  self-evident  proposition.  "  I  am  just  twenty-seven  years 
old,  and  I've  been  six  years  in  this  place.  When  I  came  of 
age  I  had  twenty  thousand  pounds,  all  of  which  I  spent  in 
nine  months.  For  three  months  I  played  at  hide-and-seek; 
then  I  got  taken  and  locked  up  here,  and  here  I've  been  ever 
since,  and  am  likely  to  remain  God  knows  how  much  longer. 
That's  what  I  call  life;  "  and  he  burst  out  into  a  fit  of  up- 
roarious laughter,  in  which  his  five  companions  as  boister- 
ously joined. 

"  Well,  I've  seen  a  little  of  life,  too,"  remarked  the  second. 

When  I  came  of  age  I  had  a  thousand  pounds,  and  made 
everybody  believe  that  I  had  got  a  fortune  of  fifty  thousand. 
So  I  lived  in  glorious  style,  got  into  debt  as  much  as  people 
would  let  me,  kept  hunters,  race-horses,  and  hounds,  drove 
my  four-in-hand,  gave  champagne  parties,  had  a  town-house, 
a  country-house,  a  crib  down  at  Newmarket,  another  at 
Melton,  and  a  shooting-box  in  the  Highlands,  and  thus 
kept  up  a  roaring  game  for  two  years.  At  last  the  smash 
came.  Everything  went  to  the  dogs,  and  I  was  brought  over 
here.    That  was  eight  years  ago,  and  here  I've  been  ever 


230  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


since.  Now,  wasn't  that  a  lark?  "  he  exclaimed,  laughing 
most  joyously  at  this  unblushing  revelation  of  his  rascality, 
while  his  boon  companions  joined  in  his  mirth. 

"  Well,  I  did  even  better  than  that,"  said  the  third;  "  for 
when  I  came  of  age  I  hadn't  a  blessed  farthing  in  the  world. 
But  I  bought  a  precious  large  pair  of  whiskers  and  mus- 
tachios  in  the  Burlington  Arcade,  clapped  a  long,  jingling 
pair  of  spurs  upon  my  heels,  wore  a  frogged  coat,  stuck  my 
hat  jauntily  over  my  right  ear,  and  called  myself  Captain. 
Thus  decorated  personally  and  titularly,  I  took  up  my 
abode  at  Long's  Hotel  and  lived  in  the  most  sumptuous 
manner.  The  fashionable  jewellers  were  delighted  to  supply 
the  Captain  with  all  he  wanted  in  the  shape  of  watches, 
chains,  rings,  and  so  on;  and  the  Captain  borrowed  their 
full  value  on  them  from  that  accommodating  relative,  his 
uncle.  Things  went  on  well  enough  in  this  manner  for  nearly 
a  twelvemonth,  and  I  was  on  the  point  of  marrying  an 
heiress  with  a  hundred  thousand  pounds,  when  the  very 
night  before  the  happy  morning,  I  unfortunately  left  my 
pocketbook  behind  at  the  house  of  my  intended.  Her  papa 
and  mamma  —  like  prying  old  folks  as  they  were  —  could 
not  resist  the  curiosity  of  peeping  inside,  just  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  Captain's  little  secrets,  when,  lo  and  behold! 
to  their  astonishment  and  dismay,  they  found  the  said 
pocketbook  crammed  with  pawnbrokers'  duplicates.  Early 
next  morning,  just  as  I  was  dressing  for  my  bridal,  not 
having  previously  missed  the  pocketbook,  nor  suspecting 
the  storm  which  was  about  to  burst  over  my  head,  a  parcel 
was  put  into  my  hand  by  the  head  waiter  at  Long's.  I  tore 
it  open,  and  out  dropped  the  fatal  pocketbook,  accom- 
panied by  a  note  from  my  intended's  papa,  couched  in  terms 
which  always  make  me  feel  very  uncomfortable  when  I  think 
of  them.  Of  course  it  was  all  up  with  the  matrimonial 
scheme;  the  landlord  of  Long's  arrested  me  for  my  bill,  I 
was  brought  to  the  Bench,  and  here  I  have  been  vegetating 
for  the  last  four  years.  How  the  devil  I  shall  ever  get  out, 
not  daring  to  face  all  those  jewellers  in  the  insolvent's  court, 
I  really  don't  know,  nor  yet  particularly  care,"  and  this 
conclusive  observation  was  the  signal  for  another  uproarious 
burst  of  laughter. 

"  Ah!  my  career  was  equally  short,  perhaps  not  so  bril- 
liant, and  most  assuredly  ten  thousand  times  more  foolish," 


THE  KING'S  BENCH 


231 


exclaimed  the  fourth  of  this  delectable  party,  when  the 
laughter  had  again  subsided.  On  coming  of  age,  I  received 
thirty  thousand  pounds  of  my  own  fortune,  and  married  a 
young  lady  who  had  fifty  thousand  pounds  as  her  fortune. 
But  within  three  months  after  this  marriage  I  was  introduced 
to  Madame  Profligata,  the  celebrated  actress,  and  though 
she  is  not  half  so  good-looking  as  my  own  wife,  yet  I  was  fool 
enough  to  fancy  that  it  was  a  very  grand  thing  to  have  such 
a  woman  as  my  mistress.  I  accordingly  made  overtures, 
and  came  to  an  agreement  to  allow  her  a  house,  carriage,  and 
five  hundred  a  year;  but  the  very  day  after  she  was  installed 
in  her  new  dwelling,  she  told  me  that  she  could  not  possibly 
stir  out  for  want  of  diamonds.  I  accordingly  sent  to  the 
most  fashionable  jeweller  to  bring  up  some  sets  of  brilliants; 
and  I  offered  madame  a  present  of  gems  valued  at  about 
a  thousand  guineas.  Thereupon  she  burst  out  laughing  in 
my  face,  and  told  me  if  I  meant  to  do  things  in  a  chandler's 
shop  style  we  had  better  cut  it  at  once.  I  trembled  at  the 
idea  of  being  ridiculed  before  all  the  world  by  losing  my 
mistress  for  such  a  trifle,  and  therefore  allowed  her  to  select 
diamonds  to  the  amount  of  six  thousand  guineas.  To  be 
brief,  madame  required  so  many  valuables  of  all  descriptions, 
had  so  many  long-standing  debts  which  must  be  paid,  and 
went  out  shopping  so  incessantly,  that  in  less  than  three 
months  she  positively  wheedled  me  out  of  twenty  thousand 
pounds.  Her  extravagance  grew  more  unbounded  as  she 
perceived  that  I  was  soft  and  yielding,  so  that  before  we 
had  been  a  year  together  she  had  swallowed  up  not  only  my 
own  fortune,  but  also  my  wife's.  And  now,  speaking  of  my 
wife,  I  may  as  well  state  that  she  returned  home  to  her 
friends,  while  I  lived  altogether  with  madame.  All  my  ready 
cash  being  gone,  my  insatiate  mistress  taught  me  how  to 
raise  money  upon  bills;  and  strange,  almost  incredible  as 
it  may  seem,  I  negotiated  in  one  year  my  own  acceptances 
to  the  tune  of  eighty  thousand  guineas,  for  which  all  the 
value  that  we  obtained  was  about  three  thousand  in  money, 
ten  thousand  in  wine,  which  nobody  could  drink,  ten  thou- 
sand in  pictures,  the  veriest  of  daubs,  and  all  the  rest  was 
absorbed  in  what  was  called  discount  and  commission. 
At  last,  when  my  name  was  so  regularly  worn  out  that  not 
a  discounter  would  look  at  it,  madame  picked  a  quarrel 
with  me,  and  we  parted.  The  very  next  day  I  heard  that  she 


232  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


had  picked  up  another  flat  whom  she  took  to  live  with  her. 
As  for  myself,  being  immediately  arrested  on  some  of  the 
bills  falUng  due,  I  was  brought  over  to  the  Bench;  and  being 
uncommonly  hard  up,  I  pocketed  my  resentment  against 
madame,  and  wrote  to  her  to  lend  me  fifty  pounds,  as  I 
happened  to  be  well  aware  that  she  had  received  five  thou- 
sand two  days  before  from  her  new  lover.  But  she  laughed 
in  my  messenger's  face,  and  told  him  to  go  about  his  business. 
To  conclude,  I  have  been  three  years  in  this  place,  and 
during  that  period  have  beheld  the  arrival  not  only  of  the 
flat  who  succeeded  me  in  the  favours  of  Madame  Profligata, 
but  also  of  four  others  who  during  the  interval  have  succes- 
sively been  her  paramours  and  her  dupes.  But  never 
mind,"  he  exclaimed,  assuming  an  air  of  jollity  which  was 
not,  after  all,  quite  natural,  we  must  take  things  as  we 
find  them,  and  fling  care  to  the  dogs!  " 

"  Yes,  that's  the  only  maxim  to  be  followed  in  a  place  like 
this,"  said  the  fifth  individual.  I  suppose  we  have  all  been 
very  gay  and  very  foolish  in  our  time.  For  my  part,  although 
now  only  in  my  twenty-sixth  year,  I  have  run  through  three 
fortunes,  amounting  altogether  to  a  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  guineas.  The  first  was  left  me  by  my  grandfather, 
the  second  by  an  uncle,  and  the  third  by  my  father;  but  I 
had  a  mania  for  aristocratic  acquaintances,  and  what  with 
playing  at  dice  with  dukes,  at  ecarte  with  earls,  at  cribbage 
with  counts,  and  billiards  with  baronets,  I  got  so  completely 
plucked  that  I  at  last  found  myself  here,  and  not  a  feather 
to  fly  with." 

And  I  suppose  not  one  of  your  fine  acquaintances  has 
ever  been  in  to  see  you?  "  observed  the  sixth  individual. 
"  Ah!  that  is  just  like  them.  Five  years  ago,  on  coming  of 
age,  I  inherited  a  fortune  of  fourteen  thousand  pounds,  and 
a  certain  fashionable  friend  honoured  me  with  an  introduc- 
tion to  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent.  His  Royal 
Highness,  hearing  I  had  come  of  age  and  inherited  prop- 
erty which  was  at  my  own  disposal,  was  pleased  to  smile 
upon  me  most  graciously.  The  next  gracious  mark  of  the 
princely  favour  was  a  very  gracious  invitation  to  a  select 
supper  at  Carlton  House,  where  I  was  introduced  to  five  or 
six  of  his  Royal  Highness's  boon  companions.  After  supper 
his  Royal  Highness  was  most  graciously  pleased  to  propose 
dice;  and  while  playing  with  me,  I  could  not  help  noticing 


THE  KING'S  BENCH  233 

that  his  Royal  Highness  was  no  mean  adept  at  securing  a 
die,  —  or,  in  other  words,  cheating  most  flagrantly.  But  who 
could  tell  a  prince  that  he  was  a  downright  sharper,  —  es- 
pecially such  a  gracious  prince  as  that,  who  robbed  you  be- 
fore your  very  eyes  in  a  style  so  well  becoming  the  first  gentle- 
man in  Europe!  As  a  matter  of  course  I  submitted  with  the 
best  possible  grace  to  be  thus  graciously  fleeced  of  all  I 
possessed;  and  after  five  or  six  select  little  suppers  at  Carlton 
House,  I  was  as  thoroughly  cleaned  out  by  that  same  gracious 
prince  as  it  was  possible  for  man  to  be.  Finding  myself 
thus  agreeably  and  pleasantly  ruined,  and  calling  to  mind  the 
numerous  promises  which  his  Royal  Highness  had  so  gra- 
ciously made  to  provide  for  me,  I  ventured  to  call  at  Carlton 
House  and  explain  my  exact  position  to  that  gracious  prince. 
He  listened  with  his  wonted  suavity  of  look  while  I  frankly 
declared  how  penniless  I  was  and  besought  him  to  lose  no 
time  in  fulfilling  his  generous  intentions  by  bestowing  a 
situation  upon  me.  '  And  so  you  have  got  no  more  money?  ' 
his  Royal  Highness  was  most  graciously  pleased  to  observe. 
'  Not  a  farthing,  sir,'  I  answered.  '  Then,  damn  your  eyes,' 
he  exclaimed,  becoming  quite  purple  in  the  face,  '  what  the 
devil  business  have  you  here?  '  and,  turning  upon  his  heel, 
he  rang  the  bell  for  me  to  be  shown  out.  Reduced  to  despair 
by  this  proceeding,  and  being  painfully  brought  to  the 
conviction  that  his  Royal  Highness  was  the  most  ungracious 
prince  in  the  world,  I  plunged  headlong  into  all  kinds  of 
dissipation  to  drown  care.  Dissipation  led  to  extravagance, 
extravagance  to  debt,  and  debt  to  the  King's  Bench,  where 
I  have  been  for  the  last  four  years,  and  mean  to  stop  because 
I  can  manage  to  pick  up  a  guinea  by  hook  or  by  crook  within 
these  walls,  which  I  should  be  somewhat  puzzled  to  do  out- 
side." 

Our  readers  will  not  have  failed  to  observe  that  despite 
all  their  previous  blusterings,  vapourings,  and  boastings 
about  well-filled  purses,  lost  purses,  lent  money,  cheque- 
books, and  so  forth,  the  half-dozen  gentlemen  really  and 
truly  were  reduced  to  the  sad  alternative  of  living  upon 
their  wits,  even  within  the  walls  of  a  debtors'  gaol,  where  it 
might  be  thought  that  everybody's  wits  were  too  sharp 
to  permit  the  possibility  of  being  lived  upon  by  any  save 
their  owners.  It  will  likewise  have  been  observed  that  when 
once  the  half-dozen  comrades  had  induced  the  colonel  to 


234  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


treat  them  to  the  negus,  —  or,  rather,  had  succeeded  in 
obtaining  it  in  his  name,  —  they  very  freely  put  him  in 
possession  of  the  incidents  of  their  past  hves.  Finally,  as 
their  tales  and  conversation  served  to  while  away  the 
colonel's  time,  he  encouraged  their  garrulity  by  a  fresh 
supply  of  negus;  and  in  this  manner  did  the  party  continue 
chatting  and  drinking  until  eleven  o'clock,  when  the  lights 
were  put  out  in  the  coffee-room. 

Malpas  then  went  up  to  bed,  and  the  six  friends  strolled 
forth  "  to  make  the  tour  of  the  whistling  shops,"  or,  in 
other  words,  to  visit  every  room  where  gin  (prohibited  by 
the  gaol  regulations)  was  sold  on  the  sly. 


CHAPTER  XX 


A  SCENE  IN  THE  DARK 

We  miist  now  return  to  Jocelyn  Loft  us  and  Laura  Linden, 
whom  we  left  together  in  the  dead  of  night  and  in  the  utter 
darkness  of  a  chamber  at  the  prefecture  of  pohce. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  the  young  lady  declared 
it  to  be  utterly  impossible  for  her  to  pass  through  the  opening 
into  her  own  apartment,  and  it  had  been  agreed  that  she 
was  to  remain  in  our  hero's  chamber  until  daylight  should 
enable  them  to  enlarge  the  aperture,  for  be  it  recollected 
that  they  dared  not  light  the  candles  again  after  the  per- 
emptory command  and  undisguised  menace  of  the  watchman. 

The  moment  Jocelyn  thus  found  that  it  was  absolutely 
necessary  —  or,  at  least,  to  all  appearances  —  that  Laura 
should  remain  until  dawn  in  his  apartment,  he  again  rose, 
as  it  were,  superior  to  the  perplexities  of  his  situation,  and 
in  the  calm  and  courteous  tone  of  a  gentleman  who  wishes 
to  show  that  his  aim  is  to  observe  the  most  delicate  con- 
sideration toward  a  female  companion,  he  said,  Miss 
Linden,  I  pray  you  to  use  my  couch  as  a  sofa,  and  I  will 
envelop  myself  in  my  cloak  and  repose  in  the  armchair 
between  the  windows." 

This  observation  was  significant  enough,  inasmuch  as  the 
position  which  Loftus  thus  specified,  and  to  which  he  at 
once  felt  his  way  in  the  dark,  placed  the  whole  length  of 
the  room  between  himself  and  Laura  Linden.  Accordingly, 
enveloping  himself  in  his  mantle,  Loftus  threw  himself 
in  the  armchair,  and  for  a  few  minutes  a  profound  silence 
reigned  in  the  apartment. 

"  Is  not  this  a  most  romantic  and  singular  adventure?  " 
said  Laura,  at  length,  in  that  low,  tremulous,  and  half- 
plaintive  voice  which  is  ofttimes  woman's  most  dangerous 

235 


236  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


weapon,  inasmuch  as  it  steals  insidiously  into  that  heart 
from  which  the  more  boldly  played  artillery  of  other  charms 
has  innocuously  rebounded. 

''It  is  one  of  those  incidents  which  are  more  frequently 
encountered  in  novels  than  in  real  life,"  answered  Loftus, 
sorry  in  his  heart  that  the  previously  prevailing  silence  was 
thus  broken  by  renewed  discourse;  and  at  the  same  time  it 
struck  him  that  the  young  lady's  voice  had  undergone 
some  sHght  change  since  she  had  last  spoken.  Indeed,  a 
vague  and  undefined  suspicion  stole  gradually  into  the  breast 
of  our  young  hero  that  this  voice,  as  he  had  last  heard  it,  was 
not  altogether  unknown  to  him. 

"  What  would  the  world  think  if  it  knew  of  this  adven- 
ture? "  continued  Laura,  her  voice  appearing  as  if  it  were 
passing  from  a  previously  feigned  to  a  now  more  natural 
tone,  as  if  she  either  forgot  that  she  had  previously  been 
disguising  that  voice  somewhat,  or  as  if  she  were  now  pur- 
posely allowing  it  to  resume  its  wonted  intonation. 

"  The  world  will  never  know  from  my  lips  anything 
that  might  be  disagreeable  or  unpleasant,"  observed  Joce- 
lyn,  a  vague  feeling  of  uneasiness  now  coming  over  him  as 
his  suspicions  relative  to  the  voice  grew  stronger  and 
stronger. 

Not  that  he  could  yet  call  to  mind  where  he  had  ever 
heard  that  voice  before,  even  if  he  had  really  ever  heard  it 
at  all  until  this  night,  but  he  was  full  certain  that  it  was 
undergoing  a  gradual  change  from  an  assumed  melody 
to  its  natural  one. 

"  Ah!  you  do  not  think,  Mr.  Loftus,"  observed  Laura, 
her  voice  becoming  more  tremulous,  as  if  vibrating  with 
some  strong  feeling  or  growing  passion,  "  you  do  not  think 
that  the  world  would  give  us  credit  for  being  such  a  good 
girl  and  boy  as  we  really  are?  You  fancy  that  the  world, 
like  a  too  suspicious  parent,  would  be  certain  to  beheve  that 
we  have  been  naughty  children?  " 

"  Heavens,  Miss  Linden!  "  exclaimed  Loftus,  shocked  at 
the  gross  indelicacy  of  the  remark,  and  therefore  speaking 
in  a  tone  of  unmistakable  displeasure,.  "  let  us  not  talk  in 
this  strain.  Indeed,  unless  you  compose  yourself  to  sleep, 
you  will  be  thoroughly  exhausted  with  fatigue  and  totally 
unfit  to  encounter  all  that  we  may  have  to  accomplish, 
to-morrow  night." 


A  SCENE  IN  THE  DARK  237 


"It  is  impossible  to  sleep  with  a  strong  current  of  air 
coming  through  this  aperture/'  said  Laura;  and  Jocelyn 
could  hear  by  the  elastic  bound  of  her  feet  alighting  upon 
the  floor  that  she  had  leaped  from  the  couch. 

"  Permit  me  to  do  my  best  to  stop  that  aperture,"  he 
-said,  rising  from  his  seat  and  slowly  advancing  through  the 
darkness  toward  the  alcove.  "  Perhaps  I  can  replace  the 
panel  of  the  wainscot  in  such  a  manner  as  to  protect  you 
from  the  draught." 

"  I  do  not  believe  it  possible,"  said  Laura,  in  a  tone  which 
evidently  came  from  hps  that  were  pouting  with  subdued 
ill-humour  at  the  moment. 

"  Then  let  us  light  a  candle  at  any  risk  —  " 

"  Ah!  doubtless  for  you  to  see  my  face,  now  that  you 
know  the  veil  is  off,"  she  cried,  with  a  merry  laugh. 

I  can  assure  you,  Miss  Linden,  that  I  have  no  imperti- 
nent curiosity  of  such  a  nature,"  answered  Jocelyn,  in  a  voice 
-coldly  expressive  of  displeasure. 

Oh,  no,  no,"  ejaculated  Laura,  her  humour  suddenly 
changing  again,  and  this  time  into  a  bitterness  which  she 
did  not  attempt  to  conceal,  you  have  no  curiosity  of  any 
kind,  Mr.  Loftus;  your  heart  is  ice  —  ice  to  the  very  core. 
I  declare  that  it  is  almost  an  insult  to  a  young  and  beautiful 
^oman  as  I  am,  that  you  have  not  spoken  to  me  a  single 
word  such  as  young  gentlemen  do  speak  to  young  ladies. 
There  —  you  know  what  I  mean  —  but  I  cannot  explain 
myself  any  better.  At  all  events,  I  feel  slighted,  neglected. 
Why  don't  you  answer  me,  sir?  "  she  exclaimed,  with  a 
petulance  almost  amounting  to  rage  as  she  stamped  her  foot 
upon  the  floor. 

"  Heavens!  what  a  little  demoness,"  thought  Jocelyn 
within  himself;  but  in  a  cold  and  apparently  unmoved 
manner,  he  said,  "  Miss  Linden,  you  thanked  me  just  now 
for  the  brotherly  kindness  which,  as  you  were  pleased  to 
observe,  I  manifested  toward  you  when  you  felt  unwell, 
and  therefore  you  will  perceive  the  inconsistency  of  at 
present  accusing  me  of  deliberately  shghting  you." 

"  Answer  me  one  question,  sir,"  exclaimed  Laura,  hastily 
and  impetuously;  "  do  you  wish  to  escape  hence?  " 

"  Most  assuredly,"  repHed  Loftus.  "  But  wherefore  a 
question  so  singular  under  the  circumstances?  " 

"  Because  you  cannot  escape  without  my  assistance/' 


238  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


returned  Laura;  and  that  assistance  you  are  not  so  certain 
of  having  as  you  were  just  now." 

"  Good  heavens!  "  exclaimed  Loft  us,  bewildered  and 
chagrined;     is  it  possible  that  I  have  really  offended  you? 

I  have  already  told  you/'  said  Laura,  in  a  voice  that 
again  became  low,  deep,  and  tremulous,  —  but  whether 
with  real  or  affected  emotion  Jocelyn  knew  not,  —  ''I  have 
already  told  you  that  men  of  the  highest  rank  and  most 
brilliant  position  have  besieged  me  with  their  overtures, 
some  upon  honourable  terms,  others  upon  dishonourable, 
and  while  I  have  spurned  the  latter,  I  have  steadily  refused 
the  former.  But  wherefore?  Because  in  my  own  heart  I  had 
already  conjured  up  the  ideal  image  of  such  a  being  as  alone 
could  win  my  love.  To  that  idealism  have  I  clung;  it  has 
been  to  me  a  dream  and  a  worship,  until  at  last  I  have  felt 
that  my  very  happiness  depended  upon  its  realization. 
I  have  pondered  and  pondered  upon  that  image  until  I  have 
led  myself,  as  it  were,  to  become  desperately  enamoured  of 
it,  and  I  have  vowed  that  never,  never,  would  I  bestow  my 
affections  upon  any  one  who  did  not  realize  in  his  person  and 
his  mind  all  that  was  beautiful,  attractive,  and  endearing 
in  that  creation  of  my  fancy.  Conceive,  then,  my  astonish- 
ment and  my  delight  when  on  passing  ere  now  into  this 
chamber  I  beheld  in  you  the  personification  of  that  delicious 
idealism." 

"  Miss  Linden,  not  another  word,  not  another  syllable  in 
this  strain,  I  conjure  you,  I  command  you!  "  cried  Loftus, 
in  a  tone  but  too  plainly  indicative  of  outraged  feeling. 
"  This  scene  reminds  me  of  temptations,  arts,  and  wiles  to 
which  I  was  exposed  ere  my  captivity ;  and  did  I  not  believe 
that  the  three  ladies  to  whom  I  now  allude  are  far,  far 
away  from  Paris,  I  should  actually  fancy  that  you  were 
one  of  them,"  he  added,  vehemently.  Therefore,  Miss 
Linden,  for  Heaven's  sake,  let  us  have  no  more  of  a  scene 
which  in  truth  is  as  derogatory  to  you  as  it  is  painful  and 
revolting  to  me." 

"  Mr.  Loftus,"  interrupted  Laura,  suddenly  assuming 
a  tone  of  decision,  I  see  that  it  is  now  necessary  we  should 
thoroughly  understand  each  other;  for  you  are  more  flinty- 
hearted  than  I  had  at  first  imagined." 

"  Yes,  let  us  understand  each  other,"  said  Loftus,  "  since 
it  would  seem  that  we  had  mistaken  each  other's  character, 


A  SCENE  IN  THE  DARK  239 


—  I,  in  believing  that  you  were  a  young  lady  of  discretion 
as  well  as  magnanimity,  and  you  in  supposing  that  I  am 
unmindful  of  my  duty  alike  to  you  and  to  myself." 

''Oh,  that  we  had  a  light!"  exclaimed  Laura  Linden, 
sarcastically,  "  so  that  I  might  see  your  countenance  flushing 
with  the  virtuous  indignation  that  is  doubtless  now  reddening 
it." 

But  for  the  explanations?  "  said  Loftus,  impetuously. 

*'  They  will  soon  be  given,  so  far  as  I  am  concerned," 
answered  Laura.  Anxious  and  longing  as  I  have  been 
to  effect  my  escape  hence,  yet  that  aspiration  has  now 
become  secondary  indeed  to  another  hope  which  I  have 
conceived,  and  on  the  fulfilment  of  which  the  former  shall 
even  be  made  to  depend.  For  I  am  self-willed,  Mr.  Loftus, 
yes,  self-willed  and  headstrong  as  I  am  petulant  and  impetu- 
ous; and  therefore  you  must  know,  in  one  word,  that  I  love 
you,  and  that  if  you  scorn  this  love  of  mine  it  shall  turn 
to  the  bitterest  hatred." 

Miss  Linden,"  observed  Loftus,  coldly  indignant,  "  you 
will  provoke  me  to  say  things  to  which  I  should  be  sorry 
to  give  utterance." 

''  Mr.  Loftus,  if  you  mean  war  to  the  death,  then  war 
let  it  be,"  cried  Miss  Linden;  ''  but  in  that  case,  remember 
that  I  shall  not  hesitate  to  sacrifice  myself  in  order  to  be 
revenged  on  you.  I  will  therefore  confess  to  the  prefect's 
servant  in  the  morning  all  the  preparations  for  escape  which 
have  been  made  —  " 

"  Foolish  young  woman!  you  will  draw  down  a  terrible 
punishment  upon  yourself,"  ejaculated  Loftus.  You 
will  perhaps  be  moved  to  another  and  far  more  dreadful 
prison." 

"  What  of  all  that,  so  long  as  I  gratify  my  revenge?  " 
exclaimed  Laura.  ''  It  is  for  you  to  decide  whether  you  will 
provoke  that  vengeance,  —  whether  you  will  continue  to 
scorn,  slight,  and  even  insult  me,  or  whether  you  will  consent 
to  gratify  this  whim  I  have  conceived  by  becoming  my  lover 
for  a  week,  a  day,  or  only  an  hour,  as  you  may  choose.  Oh, 
Mr.  Loftus,  do  not  remain  thus  hard-hearted!  Remember 
that  I  am  beautiful,  very  beautiful,  and  the  world  will  know 
nought  of  what  takes  place  between  us  in  an  hour  of  yielding 
tenderness." 

Temptress,  who  art  thou?  "  exclaimed  Jocelyn,  now 


240  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


becoming  angry  and  almost  enraged.  Thy  voice  is  familiar 
to  me;  I  am  certain  I  have  heard  it  before —  " 

"  Yes/'  interrupted  Laura,  in  a  low  tone;  and  I  have 
seen  thee  before,  and  I  know  more  of  thee  than  thou  thinkest, 
and  I  could  breathe  in  thy  ear  the  name  which  ought  to 
have  been  in  the  passport." 

Then,  who  art  thou?  Tell  me  who  thou  art,"  exclaimed 
our  young  hero,  becoming  more  and  more  excited;  "  for 
there  is  something  so  strange,  so  mysterious  in  all  this." 

"  Stay,  let  me  whisper  a  word  to  your  ear,"  said  Laura, 
"  and  you  will  then  see  that  I  know  everything  concerning 
you." 

Speak  aloud.  Miss  Linden!  "  cried  Jocelyn,  who  per- 
ceived by  the  rustling  of  her  dress  that  she  was  approaching 
him  through  the  pitchy  darkness  which  prevailed. 

Ah!  you  are  afraid  of  me?  "  she  exclaimed,  scornfully. 
Oh,  what  sickly  sentimentalism,  what  a  maudlin  affecta- 
tion of  virtue  is  all  this!  Even  the  beauteous  Louisa  Stanley 
herself,"  she  continued,  with  a  marked  accentuation  upon 
a  name  which  made  Jocelyn  start  suddenly,  "  could  scarce 
think  well  of  one  who  seems  not  to  be  made  of  flesh  and 
blood." 

You  have  alluded  to  a  young  lady,"  said  Loftus,  ^'  whose 
example  it  were  well.  Miss  Linden,  if  you  would  follow.  But 
let  me  beseech  and  implore  you  to  put  an  end  to  a  scene  as 
derogatory  as  it  is  painful,  as  humiliating  as  it  is  ridiculous." 

There  was  a  dead  silence  of  nearly  a  minute,  and  then 
the  lady's  voice  suddenly  vibrated  upon  Jocelyn's  ear, 
exclaiming,  "  Oh,  I  love  thee,  I  love  thee!  "  and  the  next 
instant  he  heard  her  come  bounding  toward  him  hke  a  ser- 
pent flinging  its  coils  through  the  utter  darkness  at  some 
object  which  a  mysterious  instinct  impelled  it  to  seize  upon, 
so  that  ere  Jocelyn  had  leisure  to  step  back  even  a  couple 
of  paces,  he  was  clasped  in  the  arms  of  his  midnight  com- 
panion. 

Violent  was  that  embrace,  as  if  the  young  lady's  impas- 
sioned nature  were  wrought  up  to  a  frenzied  pitch.  The 
plump  white  arms  were  thrown  so  suddenly  around  his 
neck  and  held  him  in  so  firm  a  clasp,  and  the  lips  of  the 
temptress  were  instantaneously  glued  to  his  own  with  so 
burning  an  intenseness,  that  it  seemed  as  if  it  were  impos- 
sible for  him  to  escape  from  the  empire  of  such  an  Amazonian 


A  SCENE  IN  THE  DARK  241 


assailant.  But,  immediately  recovering  his  presence  of 
mind,  he  endeavoured  to  disengage  himself  from  her  em- 
brace, in  which,  however,  she  held  him  with  all  the  greater 
tenacity.  He  used  a  little  more  violence,  and  then  she  clung 
to  him  with  the  force  of  desperation. 

Miss  Linden,  take  care,  I  shall  do  you  a  mischief,"  cried 
Jocelyn. 

You  would  not  ill-use  a  woman,"  replied  Laura;  and 
she  covered  his  face  with  frantic  kisses,  as  if  hurried  away 
by  the  torrent  of  raging  passions  which  she  could  not  control. 

'^By  Heaven,  this  is  intolerable!"  cried  Jocelyn.  O 
shameless  young  woman!  " 

"  Ah!  revile,  abuse  me  as  you  will,"  said  Laura,  with  a 
triumphant  tone;  "  but  I  will  either  perish  or  compel  you 
to  fall  vanquished  into  the  arms  of  my  consummated  de- 
sires." 

You  force  me  to  extremes,"  cried  Loftus,  now  seizing 
both  her  arms  and  somewhat  violently  disengaging  them 
from  about  his  neck. 

Laura  struggled  desperately  to  retain  her  hold,  and 
Jocelyn  could  hear  her  gasping  and  moaning  with  rage,  like 
a  subdued  tigress,  when  she  found  herself  baffled  and  de- 
feated in  the  conflict.  But  be  it  well  understood  that  he 
exhibited  not  the  slightest  unnecessary  violence  toward  her; 
he  merely  put  forth  his  strength  to  a  sufficient  degree  to 
unlock  her  arms  from  his  neck.  The  struggle  v/as  neverthe- 
less a  difficult  one,  inasmuch  as  it  took  place  in  the  depth  of 
a  pitchy  darkness,  and  it  was  therefore  no  fault  of  our  hero's 
if  Laura,  suddenly  tripping  over  a  rug,  fell  heavily  upon  the 
floor,  where  she  remained  senseless. 

For  a  few  moments  Loftus,  though  deeply  grieved  at 
this  incident,  fancied  that  her  immovabiUty  and  silence 
were  only  a  pretence,  but  finding  that  she  continued  thus 
still  and  speechless,  he  stooped  down  and  laid  his  hand 
upon  her  forehead.  It  was  cold,  and  there  was  a  clammy 
perspiration  upon  it.  Beginning  to  be  seriously  alarmed, 
he  placed  his  hand  upon  her  heart,  and  felt  that  though 
it  beat,  the  pulsation  was  nevertheless  slow  and  feeble.  A 
mortal  terror  now  seized  upon  him,  for  he  feared  that  she 
might  be  in  reality  seriously  injured  and  perhaps  about  to 
die,  and  for  a  few  instants  he  felt  so  bewildered  as  scarcely 
to  know  what  course  to  pursue. 


242  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


But  suddenly  it  struck  him  that  under  such  circumstances 
he  must  not  hesitate  to  procure  a  light  at  any  risk.  The 
resolve  was  adopted  and  executed.  Tinder,  flint,  steel, 
and  matches  were  at  hand;  in  another  moment  they  were 
put  into  requisition,  and  he  accordingly  at  once  proceeded 
to  strike  a  light. 

The  candle  was  lighted,  he  held  it  over  the  countenance 
of  the  lady  who  was  stretched  upon  the  floor,  and  an  ejacu- 
lation burst  from  his  lips.  Heavens,  was  it  indeed  possible? 
And  was  the  half-suspicion  which  he  had  ere  now  expressed 
so  signally  confirmed? 

But  at  that  ejaculation  which  thrilled  from  his  lips  the 
lady  herself  opened  her  eyes,  looked  up,  and  then  gave 
vent  to  a  wild  cry  of  mingled  disappointment,  rage,  and 
terror,  for  she  saw  that  detection  had  overtaken  her  sooner 
than  she  had  purposed  or  anticipated;  and  thus  did  accident 
reveal  to  Jocelyn  Loftus  the  identity  of  the  false  Laura 
Linden  with  the  depraved  though  beautiful  Julia  Owen. 


CHAPTER  XXI 


THE  PREFECT  AND  HIS  GUESTS 

We  must  now  inform  our  readers  that  on  this  same 
memorable  night  when  Jocelyn  Loftus  and  Laura  Linden, 
alias  Julia  Owen,  were  thrown  together,  the  prefect  of  police 
entertained  a  few  special  friends  at  a  choice  supper  in  the 
saloon  belonging  to  his  own  magnificent  suite  of  apartments. 

The  prefect  himself  was  in  uniform,  he  having  attended 
the  Legislative  Assembly  that  day  in  his  ministerial  capacity, 
and  the  gentlemen  whom  he  was  thus  regaling  with  the 
elegant  little  banquet  consisted  of  his  own  two  private 
secretaries,  the  under-secretary  of  state  for  the  Department 
of  the  Interior,  and  three  well-dressed  young  men  who  had 
no  ostensible  profession  nor  any  visible  sources  of  income, 
but  who  nevertheless  lived  well  and  cut  an  excellent  figure 
in  the  French  metropolis.  In  plain  terms,  these  last-men- 
tioned individuals  were  pensioned  spies,  or  mouchards, 
secretly  attached  to  the  prefecture  of  police. 

We  need  hardly  say  that  all  the  guests  thus  assembled 
were  Frenchmen,  and  the  conversation  flagged  not  during 
the  meal,  as  it  usually  does  with  Englishmen  when  similarly 
employed.  On  the  contrary,  the  gastronomic  proficiency 
of  the  prefect's  cook,  displayed  as  it  was  in  substantial 
specimens  of  the  art  now  served  up  on  massive  silver  dishes, 
afforded  not  only  delicious  food  for  the  palate  but  also  for 
the  discourse.  The  wines  were  of  the  most  exquisite  descrip- 
tion and  circulated  freely;  but  with  true  French  refinement 
in  Apician  indulgence  and  epicurean  luxuriousness,  the 
party  lingered  a  long  time  over  the  banquet,  drinking  the 
healths  of  all  the  most  beautiful  women  of  the  day,  and 
pledging  each  other  with  brimming  glasses  and  fervid  pres- 
sures of  the  hand,  in  the  true  French  style  of  cordial,  heartfelt 

243 


244  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


conviviality.  Now,  as  it  was  eleven  o'clock  before  this 
festival  commenced,  it  was  some  time  past  midnight  ere 
it  terminated.  The  prefect  and  his  companions  then  passed 
into  an  adjoining  saloon,  where  the  tables  were  spread  with 
a  choice  dessert,  another  and  still  more  rare  selection  of 
wines,  coffee,  and  burnt  punch. 

I  thought,  my  dear  friend,"  said  the  under-secretary 
of  the  Interior,  addressing  the  prefect  of  police,  "  that  you 
promised  to  have  that  enormously  rich  English  nobleman, 
the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  here  to-night?  " 

"  Such  was  my  intention,"  responded  the  prefect,  "  and  I 
believe  it  will  yet  be  fulfilled.  The  marquis  would  have  joined 
us  earlier,  but  is  obliged  to  be  at  the  ball  given  by  the 
British  ambassador  to-night.  He  however  promised  that 
he  would  get  away  soon  after  twelve  and  then  come  and 
join  us." 

''Is  he  making  a  long  stay  in  Paris?  "  asked  the  under- 
secretary of  state,  whose  name  was  Jules  Martignac. 

"  He  has  been  here  about  a  fortnight,  on  business  of  a 
somewhat  particular  and  delicate  nature,"  returned  the 
prefect,  with  a  meaning  smile. 

"  No  doubt  Monsieur  Jules  Martignac  is  as  well  acquainted 
with  that  business  as  ourselves,"  observed  one  of  the  pre- 
fect's private  secretaries. 

"  No,  indeed  I  am  not,"  exclaimed  the  under-secretary 
of  state.  "  Of  course  I  could  be  if  I  chose,  inasmuch  as 
there  are  no  secrets  at  the  prefecture  which  are  not  known 
at  the  Ministry  of  the  Interior.  But  to  tell  you  the  truth, 
I  have  been  so  very  gay  lately." 

"  Ah!  Jules,  you  have  doubtless  found  a  new  mistress?  " 
exclaimed  the  prefect,  laughing.  "  But  was  there  ever  such 
inconstancy  as  yours!  " 

''It  is  not  in  my  nature  to  remain  long  faithful  to  any 
woman,"  observed  Martignac,  who  was  as  vain  and  con- 
ceited as  he  was  really  handsome  in  person  and  elegant  in 
manners.  "  But  I  was  telling  you  that  I  have  not  lately 
had  time  to  look  over  the  secret  reports  from  the  prefecture 
to  the  Ministry  of  the  Interior,  and  therefore  I  am  not 
entirely  acquainted  with  the  object  of  Lord  Leveson's  visit 
to  Paris.  An  inkling  thereof  I  have  gleaned,  it  is  true,  from 
what  has  been  said  in  my  presence  on  two  or  three  occa- 
sions by  the  Minister  and  his  confidential  secretary." 


THE  PREFECT  AND  HIS  GUESTS  245 


Well/'  exclaimed  the  prefect,  who  from  the  first  moment 
he  sat  down  to  table  with  his  friends  had  thrown  off  all 
official  reserve,  and  who  now  laughed  heartily  at  the  thoughts 
which  the  present  discourse  had  conjured  up  in  his  mind, 
with  regard  to  Lord  Leveson's  visit  to  Paris,  I  can  safely 
say  that  of  all  the  amusing  incidents  which  ever  came  to 
my  knowledge,  certain  matters  involved  in  this  affair  are 
the  most  eminently  diverting." 

I  presume  his  lordship's  visit  to  our  gay  capital,"  said 
Jules  Martignac,  is  in  some  way  or  another  connected 
with  the  mission  of  those  three  young  Enghsh  ladies,  — 
the  Misses  Owen,  I  mean,  —  who  were  appointed  to  proceed 
to  Italy  in  order  to  occupy  certain  situations  about  the 
person  of  her  Royal  Highness  the  Princess  Caroline?  " 

That  is  to  say,  the  wife  of  the  present  prince  regent  of 
England,"  added  one  of  the  gentlemen  spies. 

"  Precisely  so,"  continued  the  prefect.  "  Well,  and  then 
these  three  girls,  these  Misses  Owen,  fall  in  with  a  certain 
young  gentleman  caUing  himself  Jocelyn  Loftus;  and  he, 
with  more  generous  candour  than  astute  discretion,  tells 
them  in  plain  terms  that  he  has  embarked  in  the  Quixotic 
enterprise  of  thwarting  all  their  schemes  and  preventing 
them  from  proceeding  to  Italy  to  fulfil  their  mission." 
"  The  insensate  EngUshman!  "  exclaimed  Jules  Martignac. 
But,  after  all,  whether  he  had  thus  revealed  his  purposes 
to  the  young  ladies,  or  not,  would  scarcely  have  signified  in 
the  long  run;  for  the  moment  he  set  foot  in  Paris,  every 
act  and  proceeding  on  his  part  was  sure  to  become  known 
to  the  authorities  and  be  duly  chronicled  in  the  Black  Books 
at  the  prefecture.  Ah!  "  added  the  handsome  but  affected 
official,  what  a  blessing  it  is  to  have  such  a  well-ramified 
system  of  police  as  we  have  got!  " 

But  you  must  observe  in  this  case,  Jules,"  said  the 
prefect,  "  that  it  was  not  my  business  to  trouble  myself 
about  Mr.  Jocelyn  Loftus  or  the  Misses  Owen  unless  in 
pursuance  of  the  special  wish  of  certain  parties  in  England; 
and  such  wish  vv^as  speedily  intimated  to  our  government. 
I  need  not  remind  you,  my  friends,  that  at  the  restoration 
of  his  Majesty  Louis  XVIII  to  the  French  throne  in  April 
last,  a  secret  compact  was  made  between  this  august  monarch 
and  the  illustrious  prince  regent  of  England,  to  the  effect 
that  they  should  mutually  forward,  advance,  and  succour 


246  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


each  other's  interests,  aims,  and  purposes  to  the  utmost 
of  their  power.  Hence  it  followed,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
that  whatever  project  the  prince  regent  of  England  might 
put  in  force  with  regard  to  his  wife  now  in  Italy  was  certain 
to  be  privately  aided  and  abetted  by  the  government  of  his 
Majesty  Louis  XVIII.  Now,  when  Mr.  Jocelyn  Loftus, 
with  more  candour  than  discretion,  made  known  his 
chivalrous  designs  to  the  three  Misses  Owen,  they  at  once 
wrote  off  to  England  for  instructions;  and  the  immediate 
consequence  was  a  private  communication  from  the  prince 
regent  to  our  own  most  gracious  sovereign,  requesting 
that  the  person  calUng  himself  Jocelyn  Loftus  might  be 
immediately  arrested  and  detained  in  some  secure  place. 
As  a  matter  of  course,  our  excellent  king,  mindful  of  his 
compact  with  the  prince  regent,  lost  no  time  in  complying 
with  the  demand ;  and  the  order  to  take  the  necessary  steps 
in  the  matter  was  forthwith  sent  to  me  from  the  palace. 
Hereupon,  I  lost  no  time  in  causing  the  young  man  passing 
under  the  name  of  Loftus  to  be  apprehended,  on  the  ground 
that  he  was  residing  in  France  with  a  passport  made  out  in 
a  false  name." 

And  did  not  the  poUce  agent  take  possession  of  all  the 
young  EngHshman's  papers  at  Meurice's  Hotel?  "  inquired 
Jules  Martignac.  Methinks  I  heard  something  of  the 
sort  mentioned  at  the  Ministry  of  the  Interior." 

As  a  matter  of  course,"  replied  the  prefect;  "  all  his 
correspondence  was  taken  possession  of  and  brought  hither. 
The  contents  of  those  letters  were  not,  however,  very 
important,  chiefly  tending  to  show  that  Mr.  Loftus  was 
engaged  to  be  married  to  a  young  lady  named  Louisa  Stanley, 
who  resides  at  Canterbury." 

"  Ah!  that's  the  capital  of  the  beautiful  county  of  Kent," 
exclaimed  Jules  Martignac.  "  For  you  know  that  I  have 
visited  England?  Well,  and  I  have  passed  a  few  days  in 
that  fine  old  city  of  Canterbury.  Its  cathedral  is  sublime. 
But  pray  proceed.  What  else  did  the  letters  and  papers 
show?  " 

That  there  was  a  Miss  Mary  Owen,  the  youngest  sister 
of  the  girls  whom  we  have  already  been  speaking  of." 

Well,  what  of  this  Mary  Owen?  " 
"  Simply  that  she  had  run  away  from  home,  I  believe,  or 
else  deserted  her  mother  and  sisters  in  some  peculiar  man- 


THE  PREFECT  AND  HIS  GUESTS  247 


ner,  and  had  found  a  refuge  with  that  same  Miss  Louisa 
Stanley  at  Canterbury.  These  were  the  principal  points 
developed  by  the  letters  and  papers  seized  at  Meurice's 
Hotel,"  continued  the  prefect;  "  and  not  knowing  how 
serviceable  they  might  prove,  I  at  once  despatched  them 
all  to  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent  in  Lon- 
don." 

But  the  three  Owens  who  were  on  their  way  to  Italy," 
inquired  Martignac,  "  have  they  not  continued  their  jour- 
ney? " 

"  Two  of  them  have,"  responded  the  prefect;  "  and  have 
joined  her  Royal  Highness  the  Princess  of  Wales  by  this 
time.  They  travelled  under  the  escort  of  a  certain  Mrs. 
Ranger,  who  had  charge  of  them." 

"  But  first,  your  Excellency  should  recollect,"  exclaimed 
one  of  the  prefect's  private  secretaries,  that  even  after 
the  arrival  of  the  instructions  from  England  to  arrest  Mr. 
Loftus,  it  was  deemed  advisable  that  the  three  sisters 
should  remain  in  Paris  a  few  days,  so  as  to  await  any  fresh 
commands  from  England  that  might  follow  after  the  receipt 
of  the  letters  and  papers  which  were  sent  over  to  the  prince 
regent." 

"  Exactly  so,"  observed  the  prefect;  "  and  in  due  course 
the  Marquis  of  Leveson  came  over  himself." 

"  The  London  papers  hinted  at  the  time,"  remarked  one 
of  the  gentlemen  spies,  "  that  his  lordship  left  England  so 
suddenly  to  be  out  of  the  way  while  his  niece's  husband,  a 
profligate  fellow  of  the  name  of  Dysart,  was  tried  and 
hung.  The  statement  was  copied  into  all  the  French 
papers." 

"  To  be  sure! "  exclaimed  the  prefect.  "  It  was  an 
excellent  excuse  for  his  lordship's  sudden  departure  from 
England  and  visit  to  Paris.  But  I  can  assure  you,  from  what 
I  have  heard  the  marquis  himself  say,  that  he  felt  not  the 
sHghtest  sympathy  on  account  of  his  niece's  husband;  and 
we  know  that  his  lordship  really  came  over  to  Paris  about 
this  affair  of  the  Owens  and  Jocelyn  Loftus.  Well,  the  day 
after  his  arrival  he  sent  the  two  eldest  young  ladies,  —  Miss 
Agatha  and  Miss  Emma,  I  think  their  names  are,  —  he 
sent  them,  I  say,  post-haste  forward  on  their  journey  to 
Italy,  along  with  Mrs.  Ranger.  But  he  kept  the  youngest 
of  the  three  girls,  whose  name  is  Julia  —  " 


248  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  I  thought  you  just  now  said  Mary/'  observed  Jules 
Martignac. 

"  No,  no,"  repUed  the  prefect.  "  Mary  is  the  youngest  of 
all,  and  is  Uving  with  Miss  Louisa  Stanley  at  Canterbury. 
It  is  JuUa,  the  youngest  of  the  three  over  in  France,  whom 
the  marquis  kept  with  him." 

The  wicked  old  fellow!  "  exclaimed  Jules.  But  I 
have  heard  that  these  Owen  girls  are  ravishingly  beautiful — " 
True!  But  you  are  quite  wrong  in  your  present  sus- 
picions," interrupted  the  prefect;  for  the  very  same  day 
that  Miss  Agatha  and  Miss  Emma  departed  for  Italy,  Miss 
JuUa  was  consigned  a  prisoner  to  the  prefecture." 

"  Ha!  ha!  capital,  was  it  not?  "  exclaimed  the  three 
gentlemen  spies  and  the  two  private  secretaries,  all  rubbing 
their  hands  with  the  air  of  men  who  were  rehshing  an 
excellent  joke.  Only  fancy  that  sweet  pretty  girl,  JuUa 
Owen,  being  locked  up  in  a  gloomy  room  in  the  prefecture!  " 

"Indeed!  and  what  was  that  for?"  demanded  Jules 
Martignac,  now  completely  at  fault  as  to  the  meaning  and 
motive  of  the  circumstances  just  related. 

"  You  must  know,  in  the  first  place,"  said  one  of  the 
gentlemen  spies,  with  a  pecuhar  look,  "  that  it  was  entirely 
of  her  own  accord." 

"  And  after  full  deliberation  with  Lord  Leveson,"  observed 
another  of  the  mouchards. 

"  And  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  room  in  which 
she  is  placed,"  added  the  third  spy,  is  next  to  that  of  the 
handsome  young  Englishman  who  chooses  to  pass  under 
the  very  euphonious  and  romantic  name  of  Jocelyn  Loftus." 

"  By  all  means  tell  us  about  this,"  exclaimed  Jules 
Martignac.  "  It  seems  to  be  one  of  the  most  thoroughly 
romantic  affairs  I  ever  heard  of." 

"  Well,"  said  the  prefect,  now  resuming  the  discourse, 

I  must  observe,  en  passant,  that  the  EngHsh  people, 
with  the  disgusting  pride  and  arrogant  self-conceit  that  is 
so  natural  to  them,  are  exceedingly  fond  of  denouncing  the 
French  as  being  utterly  demorahzed;  but  from  the  very 
incidents  of  which  we  are  speaking,  and  a  variety  of  others 
which  have  come  to  my  knowledge,  I  can  assure  you  my 
candid  and  honest  impression  is  that  the  aristocratic  and 
higher  classes  of  EngUsh  society  are  the  most  depraved, 
profligate,  and  Hcentious  in  all  the  world." 


THE  PREFECT  AND  HIS  GUESTS  249 


"  But  the  affair  of  this  Juha  Owen  and  Jocelyn  Loftus?  " 
exclaimed  Jules  Martignac,  who  did  not  want  a  lecture 
upon  morals;     is  it  so  very  racy?  " 

You  shall  judge  for  yourself/'  replied  the  prefect.  It 
appears  that  this  same  young  gentleman,  whom  we  shall 
still  continue  to  call  by  his  pseudonym  of  Jocelyn  Loftus, 
professes  a  stoical  degree  of  virtue  which  has  naturally 
given  great  offence  in  certain  quarters,  where  hcentiousness 
is  thereby  put  to  the  blush.  Now,  when  the  Marquis  of 
Leveson  came  over  to  Paris,  it  was  privately  whispered  in 
his  ear  by  Mrs.  Ranger  that  all  the  three  sisters  had  become 
desperately  enamoured  of  Jocelyn,  but  that  Agatha  and 
Emma  had  vainly  attempted  to  thaw  his  ice-cold  heart. 
The  marquis,  having  a  particular  reason  for  breaking  down 
all  the  ridiculous  scruples  which  have  taken  such  a  hold 
upon  Loftus,  became  much  interested  in  what  Mrs.  Ranger 
told  him;  and  summoning  the  three  sisters,  he  succeeded 
in  wheedling  out  of  the  two  eldest  a  confession  of  all  the  wiles, 
manoeuvres,  and  artifices  which  they  had  adopted  to  ensnare 
the  object  of  their  passion,  while  from  young  Julia's  lips  he 
elicited  the  avowal  that  she  had  not  found  an  opportunity 
of  trying  the  effect  of  her  charms,  but  should  rejoice  at 
being  enabled  to  enter  on  such  a  love-campaign.  The  mind 
of  the  marquis  was  at  once  made  up,  his  plans  were  settled, 
and  he  proceeded  to  put  them  into  execution.  Agatha  and 
Emma  were  sent  forward  with  Mrs.  Ranger,  as  I  have 
already  told  you,  to  join  the  Princess  Caroline  in  Italy; 
and  the  marquis  then  came  to  me  with  a  request  that  Julia 
Owen  might  at  once  be  placed  in  the  next  room  to  Jocelyn 
Loftus.  As  a  matter  of  course,  his  lordship  explained  his 
reasons  for  a  proceeding  which  at  the  first  glance  struck 
even  me  as  extraordinary.  He  represented  how  necessary 
it  was  to  undermine  that  stoical  virtue  which  led  Jocelyn 
Loftus  into  such  Quixotic  extremes,  and  which  would 
inevitably  lead  him,  when  he  regained  his  hberty,  not 
merely  to  thwart,  but  also  blazon  forth  to  the  whole  world 
the  long-concerted  plots  and  deeply  ramified  intrigues  that 
are  now  in  progress  relative  to  the  Princess  of  Wales.  It 
was  quite  clear,  as  the  marquis  observed,  that  Jocelyn 
knew  too  much  on  that  point;  and  the  only  way  to  render 
him  powerless  was  to  detain  him  in  prison,  or  else  drag  him 
down  from  the  pedestal  of  his  exalted  virtue.   Now,  to  keep 


250  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


him  for  a  very  long  time  in  custody  would  be  to  stand  the 
risk  of  incurring  great  scandal;  the  thing  might  get  men- 
tioned by  some  opposition  member  in  the  Legislative 
Chamber,  and  the  enemies  of  the  government  would  make 
much  of  it.  Therefore,  as  the  marquis  reasoned,  what 
scheme  could  be  better  than  to  inveigle  the  young  man 
within  the  circle  of  those  temptations  to  which  he  was  more 
likely  to  become  susceptible  in  a  state  of  captivity  than 
when  free?  '  He  must  be  looked  upon  as  a  serpent  whose 
sting  is  his  virtue,'  said  the  marquis;  Met  us  rob  him  of 
that  sting,  and  we  render  him  powerless.  We  may  thus 
defy  him,  whereas  at  present  he  is  dangerous  to  a  degree.' 
Thus  reasoned  the  Marquis  of  Leveson;  and  I  not  only 
understood  his  views,  but  cheerfully  consented  to  assist 
them  to  the  utmost  of  my  power.  Julia  Owen  was  to  be 
the  temptress  to  allure  the  young  man  from  the  pinnacle 
of  his  lofty  virtue;  she  was  the  sorceress  whose  spells  were 
to  entice  him  from  the  pedestal  of  his  exalted  chivalry. 
The  first  step  in  the  singular  drama  was  therefore  to  assign 
her  to  the  chamber  next  to  Jocelyn.  This  was  done,  and 
the  girl  entered  with  romantic  dehght  upon  the  task,  all 
the  details  and  arrangements  of  which  she  promptly  planned 
and  chalked  out.  Knowing  that  it  was  vain  to  endeavour 
to  work  at  once  upon  his  animal  passions,  she  resolved  to 
appeal  to  his  refined  and  deUcate  sentiments.  She  there- 
fore purposed  to  introduce  herself  to  him  in  the  fight  of  a 
heroine,  secure  his  admiration,  win  his  confidence,  and  thus 
establish  herself  firmly  in  his  favour  before  she  allowed  him 
to  discover  who  she  really  was.  The  charwoman  who  waits 
upon  the  prisoners  in  that  gallery  was  secretly  ordered  by 
me  to  further  the  designs  of  Miss  Julia  to  the  utmost  of  her 
power.  To  be  brief,  a  variety  of  implements  were  supplied 
the  young  lady,  to  enable  her  to  excavate  an  aperture  in 
the  wall,  so  that  she  might  obtain  entrance  into  Jocelyn's 
apartment.  She  would  thus  appear  before  him  as  his  good 
genius,  the  heroine  of  an  adventure  promising  escape  for 
himself  as  well  as  for  her." 

Ah!  then  she  would  be  revealing  herself  too  abruptly," 
exclaimed  Martignac,  "  and  before  she  was  well  assured 
of  obtaining  a  strong  hold  on  his  confidence." 

"  All  this  was  well  weighed,  considered,  and  calculated 
beforehand,"  returned  the  prefect;    "  and,  as  a  heroine 


THE  PREFECT  AND  HIS  GUESTS  251 


ought  to  be  a  somewhat  mysterious  character,  in  order  to 
inspire  a  deep  interest  as  well  as  other  engrossing  senti- 
ments, Miss  JuUa  purposed  to  conceal  her  countenance  in 
the  folds  of  a  thick  veil,  to  disguise  her  voice,  and  to  assume 
the  sweetly  romantic  name  of  Laura  Linden.  The  plan 
was  altogether  well  digested.  Conceive  a  heroic  young 
lady  breaking  at  midnight  through  the  wall  into  a  young 
gentleman's  chamber,  amusing  this  young  gentleman  with 
some  romantic  tale  to  account  for  her  captivity  and  anxiety 
to  escape,  seeking  every  little  opportunity  to  play  upon  his 
senses  and  bewilder  him  with  a  strange  mystification,  then 
holding  out  to  him  the  promise  of  immediate  flight  from 
dreary  prisonage,  —  conceive  all  this,  I  say,  and  then  you 
will  admit  that  it  must  indeed  be  a  heart  of  stone  on  which 
such  seductive  influences  could  fail  to  make  an  impression. 
And  now,  Jules,"  continued  the  prefect,  "  and  now  what 
will  you  think  when  I  tell  you  that  this  is  the  very  night  on 
which  JuHa  Owen  and  Jocelyn  Loftus  are  thus  to  meet.  Yes, 
this  very  night  is  the  curtain  to  rise  upon  the  first  act  of 
the  well-conceived  drama;  and  indeed,"  added  the  prefect, 
as  he  consulted  his  watch,  "  it  is  probable  that  they  have 
already  met,  for  'tis  near  one  in  the  morning." 

But  they  are  not  really  to  escape  together?  "  said  Jules 
Martignac,  inquiringly. 

Do  you  think  me  mad?  "  exclaimed  the  prefect.  *^  No, 
no,  Jocelyn  will  remain  here  as  long  as  his  virtue  continues 
stubborn;  but  if  he  yield  to  the  temptations  of  the  siren 
Juha,  then  may  he  go  about  his  business,  and  welcome." 

"  And  how  is  the  pretended  endeavour  to  escape  to  be 
contravened?  "  asked  Jules  Martignac,  delighted  with  the 
whole  narrative. 

"  Not  a  Hnk  in  the  chain  of  the  proceedings  is  deficient," 
responded  the  prefect;  "  everything  is  duly  weighed, 
considered,  and  prearranged.  For  instance,  the  watchman, 
as  he  goes  his  rounds,  will  suddenly  command  the  lights  to 
be  extinguished  in  Jocelyn's  chamber.  The  order  will  be 
given  authoritatively  and  accompanied  with  menaces; 
and  therefore  the  light  must  be  put  out.  Now,  what  is 
the  result?  The  young  gentleman  and  the  young  lady  are 
left  together  in  the  dark,  and  Heaven  only  knows  with 
what  wiles,  seductions,  and  blandishments  the  false  Laura 
Linden  will  assail  her  very  virtuous  companion.    At  all 


252  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


events,  this  young  man  must  be  something  more  or  less 
than  human  if  he  resist  the  combined  influences  of  such 
circumstances,  temptations,  and  opportunities." 

"  I  think  so,  too,"  observed  the  under-secretary  of  state, 
in  a  laconic  tone,  but  with  a  salacious  smacking  of  the  lips. 
"  And,  therefore,  you  say  that  if  he  does  really  succumb 
either  this  night  or  on  some  early  occasion  —  " 

^'  Oh,  once  let  him  sink  vanquished  and  overcome  into 
the  arms  of  JuUa  Owen,"  cried  the  prefect,  "  and  he  can  no 
longer  hold  up  his  head  as  the  champion  of  virtue.  Ashamed, 
disgraced,  and  degraded  in  his  own  estimation,  pulled  down 
from  the  pedestal  of  his  austere  rectitude  and  immaculate 
chivalry,  he  will  either  be  glad  to  conceal  his  diminished  head 
in  some  solitary  nook,  or  else,  in  an  access  of  despair,  will 
plunge  deeper  into  the  fount  of  bliss.  And  this  latter  theory 
is  the  more  probable;  for  if  the  wiles,  artifices,  and  seduc- 
tions of  the  siren  Julia  once  triumph,  he  will  henceforth  yield 
to  the  current  of  so  irresistible  an  infatuation  and  devote 
all  his  thoughts  to  the  beautiful  mistress  whom  he  will  thus 
have  gained,  neither  thinking  of  interference  with  the 
designs  of  the  prince  regent  on  the  one  hand,  nor  remaining 
bent  upon  contracting  an  unequal  marriage  with  Louisa 
Stanley  on  the  other." 

"  Ah!  then  there  is  an  objection  to  this  marriage,  is 
there?  "  exclaimed  Jules  Martignac. 

"  Yes,  I  believe  so,"  responded  the  prefect.  "  But  that 
appears  to  be  altogether  a  minor  consideration  in  comparison 
with  the  one  grand  aim  of  disarming  him  as  to  his  inter- 
ference with  the  mission  of  the  Owens." 

While  the  prefect  was  yet  giving  utterance  to  the  latter 
portion  of  this  sentence,  a  valet  entered  the  room;  and  the 
moment  his  master  had  ceased  speaking,  the  servant  ad- 
vanced and  whispered  a  few  words  in  his  ear. 

"  Good,"  said  the  prefect;  then  waiting  an  instant  until 
the  valet  had  withdrawn,  he  observed,  "  Well,  my  friends, 
it  is  as  I  had  anticipated;  for  the  watchman  has  just  sent 
in  word  that  he  saw  Mr.  Loftus  examining  the  window, 
and  that  upon  raising  his  voice  to  command  the  lights  to 
be  put  out,  he  beheld  the  shadow  of  a  female  form  reflected 
upon  the  opposite  wall,  as  it  flitted  across  the  young  English- 
man's chamber." 

"  Oh,  happy  fellow,"  cried  the  under-secretary  of  state, 


THE  PREFECT  AND  HIS  GUESTS  253 


if  he  will  but  avail  himself  of  the  happiness  within  his 
reach!  " 

The  door  now  again  opened ;  but  this  time  it  was  to  usher 
in  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  who  made  his  appearance  in  full 
evening  costume,  he  having  just  quitted  the  mansion  of  the 
British  ambassador.  As  soon  as  the  wonted  greetings  were 
exchanged  between  himself  and  the  prefect,  and  when  also 
the  nobleman  had  been  duly  presented  to  the  assembled 
guests,  he  glanced  significantly  at  the  great  police  authority 
as  if  to  inquire  what  news  he  had  to  impart  relative  to 
the  affair  that  so  particularly  interested  himself. 

We  are  all  friends  here,  my  lord,"  said  the  prefect; 
*^  and  being  all,  as  it  were,  officially  connected,  there  are 
no  secrets  between  us.  My  two  secretaries  are  of  course 
acquainted  with  all  that  transpires  at  the  prefecture; 
these  three  gentlemen,"  he  continued,  glancing  toward  the 
spies,  "  hold  secret  offices  of  great  trust  in  connection  with 
the  establishment;  and  that  gentleman,"  added  the  prefect, 
looking  toward  Jules  Martignac,  "  as  the  under-secretary 
of  state  for  the  Home  Department  enjoys  of  course  a  com- 
plete insight  into  everything  that  regards  the  police.  But 
although,  my  lord,  so  many  persons  are  thus  acquainted 
with  your  special  business  in  Paris  and  with  all  that  regards 
the  mission  of  the  young  English  ladies  in  whom  you  are 
interested,  yet  the  secret  itself  is  as  safe  as  if  it  were  locked 
up  only  in  your  own  breast;  for  the  poHce  establishment  of 
this  great  capital  sees  but  with  the  same  eye,  hears  with 
but  one  ear,  speaks  with  but  one  tongue,  and  thinks  with 
but  one  brain.  Although  consisting  of  many  persons, 
therefore,  it  is  one  great  and  indivisible  whole,  and  impos- 
sible of  proving  faithless  to  itself." 

"  I  thank  your  Excellency  for  these  explanations  and 
assurances,"  replied  Lord  Leveson;  and  I  entertain  not 
the  least  apprehension  for  the  safety  of  my  secret.  Since, 
then,  we  are  all  acquainted  with  its  nature,"  he  continued, 
glancing  with  an  urbane  smile  around  the  board,  we 
may  discourse  without  reserve  thereon." 

"  Most  assuredly,"  replied  the  prefect.  "  And  now,  my 
lord,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  announce  to  you,  from  informa- 
tion which  I  received  a  few  moments  before  your  lordship's 
arrival,  that  the  grand  scheme  has  reached  its  crisis,  —  the 
point  at  which  it  will  either  succeed  speedily  or  fail  signally." 


254  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Ah!  "  exclaimed  the  marquis,  his  countenance  lighting 
up  with  joy;  ''do  you  mean  really  to  tell  me  that  Julia 
Owen  is  at  this  moment  with  your  prisoner?  This  is  excel- 
lent, especially  as  I  have  brought  some  one  with  me  —  " 

''  Did  I  not  assure  your  lordship  this  morning,"  inter- 
rupted the  prefect,  not  heeding  the  last  words  of  the  noble- 
man, "  that  it  would  be  for  to-night?  " 

"  Yes,"  responded  Leveson;  "  and  relying  upon  the 
accuracy  of  your  Excellency's  information,  I  have  brought 
a  certain  person  with  me  whom  I  wish  to  become  a  specta- 
tress of  her  beloved  Jocelyn  in  the  arms  of  the  seductive 
JuHa." 

Ah!  "  ejaculated  the  prefect;  "  is  it  possible  that  you 
have  caused  Miss  Louisa  Stanley  to  come  all  the  way  from 
England  to  view  her  lover's  infidelity,  —  supposing  that 
such  infidelity  shall  really  take  place?  " 

"  And  wherefore  not  kill  two  birds  with  one  stone?  " 
said  the  marquis,  with  a  knowing  look.  The  opportunity 
was  too  good  to  be  lost,  and  I  accordingly  availed  myself 
of  it." 

"  'Tis  an  admirable  stroke  of  policy!  "  exclaimed  Jules 
Martignac.  "  Yes,  an  admirable  stroke  of  pohcy  if  your 
lordship  be  indeed  anxious  to  break  off  the  contemplated 
match  between  Louisa  Stanley  and  this  Jocelyn.  And,  by 
the  bye,  since  I  have  heard  that  this  Louisa  is  so  beautiful," 
continued  the  vain  young  Frenchman,  with  a  self-sufficient 
air,  "  perhaps  your  lordship  would  afford  me  an  opportunity 
of  making  myself  agreeable  to  her;  for  I  should  really  like 
to  have  an  English  mistress." 

"  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  gratify  you  in  this  respect," 
returned  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  smiling;  "  but  the  fact 
is  that  Louisa  Stanley  is  such  a  perfect  angel  of  beauty  I 
intend  to  try  my  own  fortune  with  her  first." 

"  But  where  is  she?  "  inquired  the  prefect. 
On  leaving  the  ambassador's  just  now,"  responded  the 
marquis,  "  I  drove  around  to  the  hotel  where  she  is  staying 
with  me,  and  brought  her  hither  in  my  carriage.    She  is 
now  in  the  anteroom." 

"  And  Mary  Owen,  who  was  staying  with  her  at  Canter- 
bury? "  said  the  prefect. 

"  Is  still  remaining  there,"  answered  Leveson,  in  order 
to  take  care  of  Louisa's  sick  aunt  during  her  absence. 


THE  PREFECT  AND  HIS  GUESTS  255 


Mary  is  harmless  enough  while  thus  employed,  and  while 
thus  buried  in  that  seclusion.  But  let  us  now  take  a  peep 
into  Jocelyn's  chamber,"  added  the  marquis,  turning  his 
eyes  upon  the  prefect  as  he  rose  from  his  seat. 

I  am  at  your  service,  my  lord,"  said  that  functionary. 

Gentlemen,  you  must  excuse  us  for  a  few  minutes.  We 
cannot  take  so  large  a  party  with  us,  especially  as  it  appears 
there  is  a  young  lady  to  accompany  us." 

The  Marquis  of  Leveson  and  the  prefect,  now  quitting 
the  saloon  together,  passed  into  the  anteroom  where  Louisa 
Stanley  was  waiting.  Her  form  was  enveloped  in  an  ample 
cloak;  and  a  large  bonnet,  of  the  Swiss  shepherdess-hat 
style  then  in  vogue,  shaded  her  features.  But  at  the  first 
glance  which  the  prefect  threw  upon  her  he  was  indeed 
struck  by  the  extraordinary  beauty  of  her  countenance, 
although  the  pallor  of  grief  and  the  restless  expression  of 
acute  suspense  were  upon  every  feature.  Nor  less  was  he 
enabled  to  remark  that  the  very  drapery  which  concealed 
her  figure  also  developed  its  matchless  symmetry;  and 
beautiful  as  the  prefect  had  fancied  Juha  Owen  to  be  when 
he  saw  her  on  the  day  she  was  introduced  to  the  prefecture, 
he  was  now  instantaneously  struck  with  the  fact  that  her 
charms  were  thrown  completely  into  the  shade  when  com- 
pared with  the  transcendent  loveliness  of  Louisa  Stanley. 
The  thought  therefore  traversed  the  prefect's  brain  that 
it  would  really,  after  all,  be  but  a  little  matter  of  wonder 
if  the  mere  image  of  the  pure-minded,  innocent,  and  angelic 
Louisa  should  preserve  Jocelyn's  fidehty  immaculate  and 
intact  against  all  the  seductive  wiles  and  wanton  fascinations 
of  Julia  Owen. 

"  This  gentleman.  Miss  Stanley,"  said  the  Marquis  of 
Leveson,  introducing  the  French  official  to  the  young  lady, 
"  is  his  Excellency  the  Prefect  of  Police;  and  he  will 
now  explain  to  you,  painful  though  the  subject  must  be, 
that  the  individual  whom  you  have  known  and  unfortunately 
learned  to  love  as  Jocelyn  Loftus  has  been  incarcerated  in 
the  prefecture  on  account  of  his  grievous  immorahties  and 
wild  excesses." 

"  Oh,  heavens,  if  this  be  indeed  true!  "  exclaimed  Louisa, 
clasping  her  hands  and  bursting  into  tears;  but  almost 
instantly  wiping  away  those  crystal  drops  of  bitter,  bitter 
anguish,  and  with  a  sudden  resumption  of  an  air  of  maiden 


256  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


dignity,  she  said,  in  a  tone  of  forced  calmness,  But  I  am 
nerved  to  hear  the  worst,  after  all  the  terrible  things  that 
your  lordship,  with  so  much  disinterested  and  indeed  paternal 
kindness,  has  told  me." 

While  giving  utterance  to  this  latter  portion  of  her  sen- 
tence, with  a  frank  and  artless  confidence  in  what  she  believed 
to  be  the  good  feeling  of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  the  maiden 
fixed  her  blue  eyes  mournfully  upon  him;  and  then  she 
turned  those  plaintive  regards  upon  the  prefect,  with  a 
look  that  seemed  to  implore  him  to  state  all  he  knew  at 
once  with  as  much  brevity  as  possible. 

"  Young  lady,"  said  the  prefect,  now  also  thinking  it 
right  to  play  the  paternal,  and  therefore  assuming  an  air 
and  a  tone  which  seemed  to  imply  that  he  was  performing 
a  very  painful  task  and  accomplishing  a  most  disagreeable 
duty,  "  young  lady,"  he  repeated,  "  it  is  better  that  you 
should  hear  at  once  the  real  character  of  him  who  has  gained 
your  affections  than  that  you  should  make  so  important  a 
discovery  when  it  has  become  too  late  to  retreat  from  an 
unfortunate  marriage.  The  plain  truth  is,  that  you  have 
been  wooed  and  your  heart  has  been  won  by  a  mere  adven- 
turer hving  under  a  feigned  name,  and  pursuing  a  career 
of  reckless  extravagance,  deep  dissipation,  and  inveterate 
profligacy." 

O  God!  have  mercy  upon  me! "  murmured  the  unhappy 
Louisa;  and  then  she  compressed  her  hps  forcibly  to  keep 
back  the  scream  that  rose  up  from  her  anguished  heart  to 
the  very  tip  of  her  tongue.  "  But  pray  go  on,  sir,  go  on," 
she  cried,  with  nervous  trepidation,  as  she  once  more 
wrestled  successfully  against  the  harrowing  poignancy  of 
her  feeUngs,  or,  rather,  fortified  herself  with  the  unnatural 
composure  of  despair. 

It  is  too  true,  then,  Miss  Stanley,"  said  the  prefect, 
encouraged  by  the  significant  signs  and  nods  which  the 
marquis  gave  him,  unperceived  by  the  unfortunate  girl 
whom  the  two  wretches  were  thus  basely  torturing,  it 
is  too  true  that  Jocelyn  Loftus  has  conducted  himself  in 
such  a  manner  since  his  arrival  in  Paris  as  to  scandahze 
society;  and  the  strong  arm  of  the  law  has  been  compelled 
to  interfere  to  punish  him  for  his  excesses.  Not  that  he 
has  committed  any  positive  crime;  but  his  debaucheries, 
his  seductions,  and  his  moral  offences  have  brought  dishonour 


THE  PREFECT  AND  HIS  GUESTS  257 


on  the  name  of  Englishmen.  Therefore,  availing  myself 
of  the  fact  that  he  was  sojourning  in  France  under  a  false 
name,  —  a  circumstance  rendering  him  amenable  to  the 
law,  —  I  have  been  compelled,  in  my  capacity  as  guardian 
of  the  pubhc  morals,  to  incarcerate  him  within  these  walls." 

"  I  dare  not  disbeheve  you,  sir,  I  cannot  doubt  your 
word,"  said  Louisa,  gazing  vacantly  around,  as  if  her  senses 
were  abandoning  her;  "  but  yet  it  appears  to  me  so  impos- 
sible, indeed,  it  looks  so  hke  a  monstrous  dream  —  " 

Alas!  my  dear  young  lady,"  said  Lord  Leveson,  as  he 
took  her  hand  with  much  apparent  kindness,  you  perceive 
that  it  is  but  too  true.  Besides  which,  so  high  a  functionary 
and  so  honourable  a  man  as  the  prefect  of  police  would  not 
possibly  be  guilty  of  an  injustice,  on  the  one  hand,  toward 
the  person  calling  himself  Jocelyn  Loftus,  nor,  on  the  other 
hand,  would  he  so  uselessly  deceive  or  so  wantonly  afflict 
a  young  damsel  hke  you." 

"  Assuredly  not,"  exclaimed  the  prefect.  But  I  forgive 
these  doubts,  this  uncertainty,  this  increduHty,  which 
Miss  Stanley  displays.  They  are  the  evidences  of  that 
generous  confidence  and  subhme  trust  which  the  loving  heart 
naturally  reposes  in  the  object  of  its  affections.  But  as  it 
is  my  painful  duty  to  put  an  end  to  all  your  doubts,  come 
hither,  young  lady,  come  hither." 

Thus  speaking,  the  prefect  opened  a  side  door,  and  led 
the  way  into  a  Httle  cabinet,  or  office,  where  a  lamp  was 
burning  on  a  table.  And  upon  this  same  table  lay  an 
enormous  book  with  a  black  cover.  It  was  thicker  and  larger 
than  the  thickest  and  largest  Bible  ever  used  in  a  Protestant 
church;  and  upon  the  back  of  the  binding,  which  was  at 
least  a  foot  wide,  were  stamped,  in  dingy  gold  letters,  these 
words,  Le  Livre  Noir; "  which,  being  translated  into 
English,  mean,    The  Black  Book." 

Opening  this  huge  volume,  and  hastily  turning  over  the 
leaves,  which  were  full  of  manuscript  entries  in  as  many 
different  styles  of  writing  as  it  is  possible  to  conceive,  the 
prefect  paused  at  a  particular  page,  ran  his  finger  down  a 
certain  column,  stopped  at  a  special  entry,  and  said,  "  Be- 
hold, Miss  Stanley,  the  record  of  the  arrest." 

Louisa  threw  her  shuddering  looks  upon  the  ominous  page, 
and  hastily  scanned  the  particular  fines  which  were  pointed 
out  to  her.   Those  lines  comprised  an  entry  which,  if  trans- 


258  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


lated  into  English,  would  read  as  follows:  An  Englishman; 
aged  about  three  and  twenty;  arrested  for  having  his 
passport  made  out  in  the  false  name  of  Jocelyn  Loftus; 
his  real  name  is  known  to  the  prefect,  but  for  special  reasons 
is  not  mentioned  here.  See,  however,  Prefect's  Private 
Minute  Book,  FoUo  2011,  second  column,  fifteenth  line 
from  the  top." 

I  wish  to  see  no  more,"  murmured  the  unhappy  Louisa, 
in  a  dying  tone.   "  I  have  already  seen  too  much." 

And  yet,  young  lady,"  said  the  marquis,  "  for  your  own 
complete  satisfaction  you  will  consent  to  behold  the  crowning 
proof  of  your  false  lover's  wickedness  and  depravity,  — • 
that  crowning  proof  which  I  have  brought  you  hither  at 
this  late  hour  to  witness.  By  your  Excellency's  permission," 
continued  the  marquis,  turning  toward  the  prefect,  "  we 
will  now  repair  —  " 

"  I  understand,"  interrupted  the  prefect.  "  Come  with  me." 

Thus  speaking,  he  led  the  way  from  the  Httle  cabinet,  the 
door  of  which  he  carefully  locked  behind  him;  then,  passing 
out  of  the  anteroom,  he  took  a  lamp  in  his  hand  and  con- 
ducted the  marquis  and  Louisa  up  a  staircase,  at  the  summit 
of  which  there  was  a  massive  door.  Having  noiselessly 
and  cautiously  opened  this  door  by  means  of  a  key  which 
he  had  with  him,  he  led  the  way  down  a  long,  gloomy 
passage  containing  a  row  of  doors,  at  the  last  but  one  of 
which  he  stopped  short. 

Now  follow  me  with  the  utmost  caution  and  on  tiptoe," 
he  said,  speaking  in  a  low  whisper  to  the  marquis  and 
Louisa;  then,  having  opened  the  door  with  an  evident  desire 
to  avoid  the  chance  of  even  a  hinge  creaking,  he  deposited 
the  lamp  in  a  niche  in  the  passage,  and  stole  into  the  chamber. 

Louisa  Stanley  now  hung  back,  and  staggered  against 
the  wall,  as  if  a  faintness  was  coming  over  her;  for  shocked, 
afflicted,  and  also  indignant  as  she  was  at  the  thought  of 
her  lover's  profligacy  and  perfidy,  her  pure  soul  nevertheless 
revolted  from  the  idea  of  becoming  a  witness  of  any  proof 
of  his  guilt. 

"  Go  on,  young  lady,  go  on,"  whispered  the  Marquis  of 
Leveson,  in  a  hurried  tone;  "  you  must  see  out  this  matter 
to  the  end,  and  sustain  your  courage  until  the  very  last." 

Startled  into  a  feverish  excitement  rather  than  inspired 
with  any  real  feeUng  of  curiosity,  Louisa  Stanley  passed 


THE  PREFECT  AND  HIS  GUESTS  259 


into  the  chamber,  whither,  however,  the  marquis  did  not 
follow  her.  But  he  remained  upon  the  threshold,  as  if 
contented  to  hear  the  report  which  might  presently  be 
made  to  him,  instead  of  witnessing  with  his  own  eyes  the 
scene  itself. 

Noiselessly  and  rapidly  did  Louisa  glide  into  that  chamber; 
but  scarcely  had  she  advanced  half  a  dozen  paces,  when 
through  the  gloom  which  prevailed  she  beheld  a  Hght  shining 
dimly  in,  as  it  were,  from  the  depths  of  some  recess.  At 
this  moment  the  prefect  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  hurried 
her  forward  in  the  direction  where  that  hght  seemed  to  be 
burning.  A  few  paces  more,  and  Louisa  now  saw  that  this 
light  was  really  in  an  adjacent  chamber,  whence  it  emanated 
through  an  aperture  in  the  partition  wall. 

Close  up  to  this  opening  did  the  prefect  hurry  the  affrighted 
maiden,  for  affrighted  she  really  was  at  an  appearance  of 
so  sinister  a  nature,  inasmuch  as  it  really  seemed  at  the 
moment  as  if  through  the  vista  of  gloom  her  eyes  were 
resting  upon  a  light  coming  from  a  vaulted  sepulchre. 
But  at  the  same  instant  that  this  thought  traversed  her 
imagination,  a  well-known  voice  struck  upon  her  ear,  — ■ 
ay,  struck  upon  her  brain,  vibrating  down  every  chord  that 
led  even  unto  her  heart's  core;  and  this  voice  said,  in  a  tone 
of  impassioned  remonstrance,  "  Oh,  you  will  drive  me  mad, 
you  will  drive  me  mad!  " 

A  shriek  rose  to  the  very  margin  of  Louisa's  lips,  even  as 
a  fountain,  when  disturbed  at  its  depths,  bubbles  up  to  the 
very  brim.  But  the  sound  was  instantaneously  stifled  and 
subdued  before  it  burst  forth;  for  an  overwhelming  sense 
of  utter  misery  fell  crushingly  upon  the  maiden,  like  an 
awful  consternation,  as  she  heard  the  melodious  tones  of  a 
female  voice  replying,  with  the  fervour  of  passion,  "  Oh, 
Jocelyn,  dear  Jocelyn,  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee!  " 

Louisa  heard  no  more.  The  consternation  which  stifled 
her  scream  struck  another  blow  and  deprived  her  of  con- 
sciousness, so  that  she  reeled  half-around  and  fell  heavily 
upon  the  floor. 

"Good  heavens!"  exclaimed  Jocelyn,  from  the  inner 
apartment,  "  what  sound  was  that?  "  and  seizing  the  light 
from  the  table,  he  sprang  toward  the  aperture. 

Thrusting  the  lamp  to  the  entire  length  of  his  arm  through 
the  opening,  its  rays  fell  full  upon  the  countenance  of  the 


260  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


damsel,  whom  the  prefect  was  now  hurriedly  raising  from  the 
floor.  But,  oh,  what  words  can  depict  the  hurricane  of  amaze- 
ment and  the  tornado  of  agonizing  thoughts  and  wildering 
ideas  which  swept,  all  in  a  moment,  like  a  flight  of  barbed 
arrows,  through  Jocelyn's  brain,  when  the  glare  of  that  lamp 
fell  upon  the  pale,  inanimate,  but  ever  lovely  countenance 
of  his  own  Louisa? 

A  cry  of  rage,  a  yell  of  madness  burst  furiously  from  him; 
but,  quick  as  thought,  the  prefect  bore  the  senseless  maiden 
from  the  room,  the  door  of  which  was  immediately  closed. 
In  the  frenzied  excitement  to  which  he  was  now  a  prey, 
Jocelyn  dropped  the  lamp  from  his  hand;  and  it  was  instan- 
taneously extinguished  as  it  fell  upon  the  floor  of  the 
adjacent  chamber,  into  which  he  had  thrust  it  through  the 
aperture. 

"  Heavens!  what  is  the  matter?  "  exclaimed  Julia  Owen, 
startled  and  affrighted  by  the  suddenness  of  the  scene 
which  thus  terminated  all  in  a  moment  in  utter  darkness. 

"Oh,  wretch,  profligate,  demoness  that  thou  art!" 
cried  Jocelyn,  in  a  voice  indicative  of  a  rending  anguish; 
"  thou  hast  ruined  me  in  the  eyes  of  my  beloved!  " 

And  as  the  last  word  thrilled  from  his  lips  with  all  the 
wildness  of  dehrium,  he  fell  heavily  upon  the  floor. 

"  Jocelyn,  Jocelyn,  speak  to  me,  speak  to  me!  "  shrieked 
Julia  Owen,  a  mortal  terror  now  seizing  upon  her,  for  this 
scene  was  dreadful  in  the  depth  of  that  pitchy  darkness. 
"  Good  heavens!  he  does  not  answer  me!  "  Then  groping 
her  way  to  the  spot  where  he  had  fallen  in  the  alcove  whence 
the  bed,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  drawn  out,  she  stooped 
down  and  placed  her  hand  upon  his  face. 

His  features  were  motionless,  though  bathed  in  those 
cold  damps  that  send  a  chill  through  the  warm  living  flesh 
that  comes  in  contact  with  them;  and  her  terror  now 
increasing  almost  to  an  agony,  she  placed  her  ear  to  his  lips. 
But  she  could  catch  the  sound  of  neither  breathing  nor 
gasping;  and  while  her  brain  reeled  and  she  felt  as  if  she 
were  going  mad,  she  placed  her  hand  upon  his  heart.  It 
throbbed  not,  no  pulsation  could  she  feel,  and  with  a  loud 
cry  that  rang  forth  thrillingly  and  wild  upon  the  night  air, 
she  said,  "  He  is  dead,  he  is  dead!  My  God!  'tis  I  whose 
wickedness  has  killed  him.  O  God!  0  God!  "  and  then 
all  consciousness  abandoned  her. 


CHAPTER  XXII 


THE  HANGMAN  IN  HIS  GLORY  AGAIN 

It  was  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning;  and  Mr.  Daniel 
Coffin,  having  disposed  of  the  beards  of  all  his  customers, 
proceeded  to  scrape  off  his  own.  Seldom  was  the  ludicrous 
more  singularly  blended  with  the  ferocious  than  in  the 
expression  of  that  man's  countenance,  as  he  stood  before 
the  glass  making  those  grimaces  which  usually  accompany 
the  progress  of  the  razor  over  the  parts  whence  the  capillary 
stubble  is  to  be  removed.  Having  shaved  himself  as  closely 
and  neatly  as  he  could,  the  Hangman  ascended  to  his  bed- 
chamber, where  he  proceeded  to  dress  himself  in  his  Sunday's 
apparel;  and  his  toilet  being  completed,  he  went  down 
again  to  his  parlour,  where  he  ordered  Sally  Melmoth  to 
give  him  a  dram  of  brandy,  "  to  keep  the  cold  out  of  his 
stomach. '^ 

"  And  where  are  you  off  to  so  smart  this  morning?  "  she 
inquired,  as  she  handed  him  the  Hquor. 

"  Ay,  where  indeed?  "  asked  her  brother  Dick. 

"  Well,  you'll  be  surprised,  perhaps,  when  I  tell  you," 
returned  Coffin;  then,  looking  hastily  around,  and  observing 
that  Jack  the  Foundling  was  not  in  the  room  at  the  moment, 
he  said,  in  a  low  voice,  I  am  going  to  call  on  our  friend, 
Mr.  Larry  Sampson." 

''Larry  Sampson!"  ejaculated  the  brother  and  sister, 
with  looks  of  amazement.  What  on  earth  can  you  want 
with  him?  " 

''  Well,  I  suppose  you  are  not  afraid  of  my  going  to  his 
place,"  observed  the  Hangman,  with  a  grim  smile  of  mingled 
cunning  and  ferocious  satisfaction;  "  it's  no  longer  the 
lion's  den  into  which  a  fellow  situated  as  I  was  didn't  dare 
poke  his  head;  and  though  Larry  himself  was  for  a  short 

261 


262  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


time  a  lion  in  my  path,  yet  he  has  lost  his  claws  and  his 
teeth  now  so  far  as  I  am  concerned.  He  can't  bite  or  yet 
scratch.  The  royal  pardon,"  added  Coffin,  tapping  his 
pocket  significantly,  has  made  me  proof  against  all  dangers 
in  that  quarter." 

"  Of  course,  we  know  that,"  observed  Sally  Melmoth. 
But  why  go  near  such  a  person  at  all?  The  very  look  of 
him  must  be  odious,  after  all  you  suffered  on  his  account, 
playing  at  hide-and-seek  as  you  was,  and  all  the  latter  part 
of  the  time  not  daring  to  go  to  your  old  haunts  either  at 
the  Folly  Bridges,  or  Polly  Scratchem's,  or  any  of  the 
flash  cribs,  because  we  got  the  information  that  they  were 
all  being  watched  by  Larry's  men." 

Well,  well,  what's  the  use  of  recapitulating  all  these 
things  that  we  know  so  thoroughly?  "  cried  the  Hangman. 

The  fact  is,  Larry  got  scent,  somehow  or  another,  of  my 
being  aUve  and  kicking;  and,  by  jingo!  now  that  the 
thought  strikes  me,"  ejaculated  the  man,  his  countenance 
suddenly  assuming  a  look  terribly  ferocious,  I  do  really 
beheve  that  I  can  guess  who  it  was  that  gave  Larry  a  hint 
of  my  having  escaped  the  Thames  and  being  still  in  the 
land  of  the  Uving." 

"  Ah!  who  do  you  think?  "  exclaimed  Dick  Melmoth. 
"  Not  the  Foundling,  eh?  "  said  Sally. 

Not  at  all,"  answered  Coffin.  "  I  know  poor  Jack  is 
staunch.  But  who  was  the  first  person  that  I  went  to  after 
leaving  Beechey  Manor?  " 

Taggarty,  to  be  sure!  "  cried  both  brother  and  sister, 
as  it  were,  in  the  same  breath. 

"  Ay,  that's  it,"  said  Coffin,  with  a  look  gloomily  ominous. 
"  Don't  you  recollect  the  fellow  wouldn't  either  have  me 
in  his  house  to  live  a  short  while,  nor  would  he  lend  a  hand 
in  putting  Larry  quietly  and  comfortably  out  of  the  way 
when  there  was  such  a  capital  opportunity.  Besides,  the 
very  fact  that  Larry  was  there  that  night  —  " 

"  Yes,  but  that  was  about  Jack  the  Foundhng,"  observed 
Dick  Melmoth. 

Ah!  but  when  once  a  fellow  gets  any  way  in  league  or 
connection  with  a  Bow  Street  runner,"  exclaimed  the 
Hangman,  dogmatically,  "  you  never  can  tell  what  he 
may  be  enticed  into.  At  all  events,  it's  very  certain,"  he 
continued,  "  that  from  the  moment  I  went  and  showed 


THE  HANGMAN  IN  HIS  GLORY  AGAIN  263 


myself  at  Taggarty's,  all  the  flash  cribs  and  boozing-kens 
were  closely  watched  by  Larry's  spies." 

"  To  be  sure!  The  information  was  deuced  soon  passed 
around  to  all  the  knowing  ones/'  observed  Dick  Melmoth, 
"  and  so  we  lost  no  time  in  putting  you  up  to  what  was 
going  on.  Why,  there  was  Joe  Parkes's  on  Saffron  Hill, 
Sharp  Mawley's  over  in  the  Mint,  Meg  Blowen's  in  the 
Almonry,  Polly  Scratchem's  down  in  Whitechapel,  and 
BenculFs  crib  in  Jacob's  Island,  —  they  were  all  close 
watched,  day  and  night,  without  ceasing." 

And  devilish  lucky  it  was,  then,  that  I  hadn't  gone  to 
either,"  said  Daniel  Coffin,  "  as  was  my  original  intention. 
But  by  going  and  staying  first  with  Old  Jeremy  Humpage 
in  Whitechapel,  then  with  the  Swag  Chovey  Bloak  in  St. 
George's  Fields,  I  managed  to  escape  all  Mr.  Sampson's 
devices  till  the  very  day  that  Dysart  was  to  be  hung  and  I 
was  wanted  again  at  the  Old  Bailey.  Come,  give  me  another 
glass  of  lush,"  he  exclaimed,  with  a  chuckle  that  sounded 
like  the  subdued  growl  of  a  hyena;  "  for,  after  all,  I  like 
talking  of  these  things  when  they  are  all  past  and  gone  and 
the  danger's  over." 

And  so  you  really  do  suspect  Taggarty?  "  said  Sally 
Melmoth,  as  she  refilled  the  Hangman's  glass. 

"  Well,  I  don't  see  how  the  devil  I  can  help  suspecting 
him,"  returned  Coffin.  "  The  idea  flashed  to  my  mind  all 
in  a  moment;  but  it  at  once  took  a  deep  root  there,  and 
now  let  me  tell  you  that  if  I  was  to  think  over  it  a  hundred 
years,  I  couldn't  be  more  convinced  than  I  am  at  this  instant 
that  it  was  Taggarty  who  must  have  peached." 

"  But  what  are  you  going  to  Larry  Sampson's  for  this 
morning?  "  asked  his  mistress. 

Why,  there's  five  or  six  fellows  to  be  tucked  up  down  in 
the  country,"  answered  the  Hangman,  with  a  sinister  leer; 

and  I  was  going  to  ask  Larry  just  to  drop  a  note  to  the 
sheriffs  of  those  counties  and  recommend  me  as  a  gentleman 
which  does  his  business  in  a  neat,  agreeable,  and  workman- 
like manner  in  the  hanging  line,"  and  he  gave  another  low, 
chuckling  laugh  the  mirth  of  which  was  as  pleasant  as  that 
of  a  hyena. 

"  But  you  don't  want  such  country  custom,  do  you?  " 
asked  Sally,  in  surprise. 

"  No  such  thing,"  returned  Coffin;  "  but  what  I  do  want 


264  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


is  an  excuse  to  have  a  chat  with  Larry  Sampson.  I  dare 
say  he'll  let  bygones  be  bygones  and  talk  pleasant  enough 
when  he  sees  that  I  am  civil  on  my  side.  Larry  isn't  a  fellow 
to  bear  grudges;  but  I  am,  though,  desperately,  infernally/' 
he  added,  with  terrible  emphasis. 

And  what  do  you  want  to  talk  to  him  about?  "  asked 
Sally,  now  questioning  the  Hangman  with  more  timidity 
than  at  first,  for  his  temper  appeared  to  be  lowering.  But 
perhaps  you  hope  to  be  able  to  worm  out  some  secrets  from 
Larry  Sampson?  " 

A  little  in  that  way,"  responded  the  Hangman,  with  a 
grim  smile,  which  reassured  his  mistress  and  her  brother 
as  to  the  condescending  and  communicative  humour  he 
was  in.  "  What  I  chiefly  want  to  see  is  whether  Larry  will 
speak  to  me  about  Jack  the  Foundhng  at  all.  For  don't 
you  see  that  it  was  so  odd  he  should  get  all  that  information 
from  Taggarty,  drop  so  many  hints  about  the  lad's  probably 
being  the  son  of  well-to-do  parents,  and  then  suddenly 
take  no  more  notice  of  the  matter  than  if  he  had  never 
made  any  such  inquiries  at  all?  So  I  mean  to  try  and  draw 
Master  Larry  out  in  that  respect." 

"  And  how  shall  you  do  it?  "  inquired  Dick  Melmoth. 

Don't  you  see,  I've  got  my  excuse  all  ready  cut  and 
dried  for  Larry,"  continued  the  Hangman;  and  I  shall  tell 
him  that  the  reason  I  want  to  get  these  country  execution 
jobs  is  to  have  an  opportunity  of  letting  the  Foundhng  try 
his  hand  at  tucking  the  chaps  up,  as  I  shall  say  that  I  mean 
to  make  a  Jack  Ketch  of  him.  So  now  don't  you  see  that 
if  there  is  any  truth  at  all  in  the  idea  of  the  Foundling  belong- 
ing to  a  respectable  family,  Larry  will  deuced  soon  be 
horrified  at  the  idea  of  the  young  fellow  taking  to  the 
gallows  functions;  and  he'll  tell  me  to  wait  awhile  or 
think  better  of  it,  or  something  of  that  sort;  and  if 
he  does  this,  then  we  shall  really  know  that  he  didn't 
make  all  those  inquiries  about  the  lad  Jack  for  nothing  at 
all." 

Well,  really,  Daniel,"  said  his  mistress,  coaxingly, 
"  I  always  knew  you  was  a  wide-awake  fellow,  but  I  didn't 
give  you  credit  for  so  much  cunning  as  all  this." 

"  Nor  I,"  observed  Dick  Melmoth;  and  I  do  believe 
you'll  succeed  in  getting  something  out  of  Larry,  after 
all." 


THE  HANGMAN  IN  HIS  GLORY  AGAIN  265 


And  if  you  do  find  that  Jack  is  the  son  of  respectable 
parents,"  observed  Sal,  you'll  be  able  to  make  a  pretty 
penny  of  the.  business,  eh?  " 

"  Well,  we  shall  see,"  and  the  Hangman  was  about  to 
sally  forth,  when  suddenly  recollecting  something,  he  felt 
the  pockets  of  his  coat,  and  then  exclaimed,  By  Satan! 
I  was  going  without  my  tools,  and  that's  a  thing  I  don't 
often  do,  seeing  that  they  very  frequently  come  into  use  at 
a  moment  when  it's  least  expected  that  they'll  be  wanted 
at  all." 

Dick  Melmoth  hastened  to  open  a  cupboard,  whence  he 
took  forth  a  bunch  of  skeleton  keys,  which  he  wrapped  up 
in  paper  so  as  to  prevent  them  from  jinghng.  He  next 
produced  from  the  same  place  a  small  "  jimmy,"  or  crowbar, 
about  a  foot  and  a  half  long,  and  about  the  thickness  of 
the  thumb,  but  of  the  strongest  wrought  iron,  and  admirably 
shaped  for  burglarious  purposes.  He  then  drew  forth  a  small 
tin  box  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter,  and  filled  with  wax, 
which  was  used  to  take  the  impression  of  a  key  should  such 
process  be  required  for  ulterior  purposes.  Lastly,  Dick 
Melmoth  produced  a  couple  of  knitting-needles,  pointed 
in  a  particular  manner,  and  used  for  cutting  panes  of  glass 
in  the  same  way  as  a  glazier's  diamond. 

All  the  articles  just  detailed  did  Mr.  Daniel  Coffin  secure 
about  his  person;  and  as  he  wore  a  sort  of  shooting-coat, 
the  crowbar  lay  easily  enough  lengthwise  at  the  bottom 
of  one  of  his  capacious  pockets.  But  it  must  not  be  sup- 
posed that  the  Hangman  had  any  special  purpose  now  in 
view  in  thus  arming  himself  with  the  implements  of  his 
secret  profession.  The  fact  was  that  he  seldom  if  ever 
stirred  abroad  without  those  little  articles,  which 
might  at  any  moment  come  unexpectedly  handy;  and 
as  habit  is  second  nature,  he  positively  would  not  have 
felt  comfortable  had  he  omitted  his  usual  practice  in  this 
respect. 

Sallying  forth  accordingly,  with  the  royal  pardon  in  one 
of  his  pockets  and  the  implements  of  burglary  distributed 
about  in  all  the  others,  Mr.  Daniel  Coffin  took  his  way  to 
Long  Acre.  On  knocking  at  the  door  of  Larry  Sampson's 
house,  his  summons  was  answered  by  Dame  Margery,  the 
officer's  housekeeper,  to  whom  the  person  of  the  Hangman 
was  not  known.   Not  that  she  was,  however,  at  all  prepos- 


266  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


sessed  in  his  favour;  for,  as  the  reader  is  already  aware, 
he  had  a  most  hangdog  look  about  him,  even  when  attired 
in  his  best  apparel. 

Is  Mr.  Sampson  at  home?  "  he  asked. 

No,  he  is  not,"  responded  Dame  Margery,  eying  him 
askance,  and  keeping  the  door  half-closed. 

But  I  want  to  see  him  very  particularly,"  said  the 
Hangman.  "  Indeed,  it's  about  professional  business,"  he 
added,  with  a  significant  look. 

"  Then  who  are  you?  "  inquired  the  woman. 
"  Lord  bless  you!  "  returned  the  Hangman,  my  functions 
are  up  there  in  the  Old  Bailey,"  and  as  he  spoke,  with  a 
still  deeper  significancy  of  look,  he  jerked  his  thumb  over 
his  left  shoulder  in  the  direction  of  the  locality  which  he 
had  named. 

Now  it  instantaneously  struck  Dame  Margery  that  the 
fellow  must  be  a  turnkey  from  Newgate;  and,  with  this 
belief,  she  had  no  longer  any  hesitation  in  admitting  him 
into  the  house.  She  accordingly  requested  him  to  walk 
in  and  wait  a  short  time,  observing  that  it  was  more  than 
probable  that  Mr.  Sampson  would  not  be  long  before  he 
returned.  Daniel  Coffin  at  once  accepted  the  invitation, 
and  was  forthwith  conducted  into  the  breakfast-parlour, 
where  Dame  Margery  left  him.  But  after  waiting  upwards 
of  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  the  Hangman  got  tired  of 
remaining  there  doing  nothing;  and  he  thought  that  he 
might  as  well  repair  to  the  nearest  public-house  and  regale 
himself  until  Mr.  Sampson  should  return.  He  accordingly 
issued  forth  from  the  parlour  with  the  view  of  telling  the 
housekeeper  whither  he  was  going,  and  requesting  that  a 
message  be  sent  to  inform  him  when  her  master  came  back; 
but  though  he  coughed,  hemmed,  and  stamped  with  his 
foot,  in  order  to  attract  the  attention  of  Dame  Margery,  no 
response  was  given  to  his  summons.  Fancying  she  might 
be  up-stairs,  he  coolly  and  quietly  ascended  to  the  story 
above;  for  Mr.  Daniel  Coffin  was  not  accustomed  to  be  over- 
nice  or  delicate  in  the  observance  of  ceremony  and  the 
punctilios  of  etiquette. 

"  Hem!  hah!  I  say,  now  then!  Will  nobody  answer?  " 
he  exclaimed,  on  reaching  the  landing  of  the  first  floor; 
but  all  was  silent,  —  for  the  very  simple  reason  that  Dame 
Margery  was  down  in  the  kitchen  attending  to  her  culinary 


THE  HANGMAN  IN  HIS  GLORY  AGAIN  267 


duties,  and  being  rather  deaf,  she  heard  not  the  Hangman's 
voice. 

As  for  the  servant  of  all  work,  she  had  gone  out  upon  an 
errand;  and  thus  did  it  happen  that  no  attention  was  paid 
to  Mr.  Coffin. 

"  Well,  I  suppose  the  place  is  deserted,"  he  muttered  to 
himself,  in  that  low,  growling  tone  which  was  peculiar  to 
him  when  vexed  or  annoyed;  and  opening  the  door  that 
was  nearest,  he  looked  in  and  perceived  that  it  was  a  hand- 
somely furnished  drawing-room.  Upon  my  word,  Mr. 
Sampson  is  quite  a  gentleman.  Ah!  he  must  have  made  a 
good  thing  of  his  business  —  no  doubt  of  it!"  added  the 
Hangman,  as  he  glanced  around  the  well-appointed  apart- 
ment. Then  stepping  forth  upon  the  landing  again,  he 
closed  the  door  behind  him.  I  wonder  what  this  room  is," 
he  now  said,  as  he  grasped  the  handle  of  another  door;  but 
it  was  locked. 

Obedient  to  some  strange  and  scarcely  accountable 
impulse,  Daniel  Coffin  stooped  down  to  peep  through  the 
keyhole;  but  he  found  it  impervious  to  his  view,  being  closed 
on  the  inner  side,  and  he  muttered  to  himself,  "  Well, 
this  is  a  pecuUar  lock,  made  on  purpose  to  prevent  anybody 
from  looking  through  it." 

Such  a  circumstance  was  quite  enough  to  arouse  the 
curiosity  of  the  Hangman;  and  without  any  more  ado  he 
at  once  took  forth  his  skeleton  keys,  and  thrust  one  of 
them  into  the  lock,  in  which  it  turned  without  difficulty. 
The  door  was  opened  accordingly,  and  Coffin  entered  the 
apartment. 

And  now  it  would  be  difficult  to  describe  this  individual's 
amazement  at  the  first  glance  which  he  cast  around  the 
room;  for  the  walls  were  studded  with  innumerable  pegs, 
to  which  hung  an  infinite  assortment  of  male  and  female 
dresses.  These  were  evidently  intended  and  used  as  dis- 
guises; and  as  the  Hangman  contemplated  this  singular 
wardrobe  with  a  closer  scrutiny,  he  observed  that  it  con- 
tained the  specimen  of  almost  every  costume  then  existing 
in  England.  There  was  even  the  court  dress,  as  well  as  the 
soldier's  uniform;  the  fashionable  suit  of  a  West  End  dandy 
was  side  by  side  with  the  lace-bedizened  livery  of  a  domestic 
servant.  The  complete  costume  of  a  sportsman  was  sus- 
pended next  to  the  ragged  garb  of  a  beggar;  the  dress  of 


268  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


a  stone-mason  was  in  contrast  with  that  of  a  sweep.  The 
characteristic  apparel  of  a  parish  beadle  hung  next  to  the 
mud-besmeared  garb  of  a  peasant ;  and  the  rough  dress  of  a 
sailor  was  close  to  the  modest  uniform  of  a  postman.  In 
fine,  the  dresses  of  all  grades  and  classes,  as  well  as  of  both 
sexes,  were  comprised  in  this  perfect  museum  of  costume; 
and  it  was  quite  clear  that  the  individual  possessing  such 
an  extraordinary  collection  could  at  any  moment  transform 
himself  into  the  semblance  of  a  peer  or  a  peasant,  a  parson 
or  a  postman,  a  sportsman  or  a  soldier,  a  tailor  or  a  tinker, 
a  gentleman  or  a  gipsy,  a  mariner  or  a  pickpocket,  a  rollick- 
ing highwayman  or  a  mean  petty  thief,  a  substantial  farmer 
or  a  needy  mendicant,  a  costermonger  or  a  ballad  singer, 
a  fortune-teller  or  a  match-woman,  a  fish-fag  or  a  gipsy, 
or,  in  fine,  any  member  of  any  grade,  class,  or  section  of 
society. 

But  these  transformations  were  not  to  be  made  only  by 
means  of  the  various  dresses  suspended  around;  other 
auxiliaries  and  accessories  were  likewise  at  hand  in  this 
apartment.  Thus,  upon  a  long  shelf  stood  a  row  of  barber's 
blocks,  each  surmounted  with  a  wig;  and  as  a  matter  of 
course  these  wigs  were  of  different  colours,  shapes,  and 
qualities,  affording  specimens  of  all  the  varieties  of  the 
peruke  species.  Then,  on  another  shelf,  there  were  false 
whiskers,  mustachios,  and  beards,  —  yes,  and  even  false 
eyebrows;  and  on  a  third  shelf  were  pots  of  rouge,  hair- 
powder,  paints,  colours,  and  dyes  of  all  shades,  degrees, 
and  descriptions. 

There  was  one  more  feature  of  interest  in  this  room 
which  came  in  for  a  due  share  of  the  Hangman's  attention; 
and  this  was  an  enormous  book,  as  large  as  a  church  Bible, 
and  the  contents  of  which  were  divided  into  three  specific 
departments.  The  first  was  a  list  of  all  the  bad  characters, 
male  and  female,  infesting  the  metropolis;  and  against 
every  name  was  affixed  the  date  of  its  entry  in  that  book, 
thereby  showing  how  long  each  individual  in  the  category 
had  been  under  the  surveillance  of  Mr.  Lawrence  Sampson. 
The  second  compartment  contained  a  list  of  all  the  flash 
cribs,  boozing-kens,  fence-shops,  low  lodging-houses,  and 
places  of  vile  resort  in  which  the  metropolis  abounded; 
and  so  complete  was  the  information  given  by  this  list,  that 
to  every  den  thus  specified  was  added  the  name  of  the 


THE  HANGMAN  IN  HIS  GLORY  AGAIN  269 


person  keeping  it,  followed  by  memoranda  of  what  sort  of 
characters  frequented  it,  the  sums  paid  for  accommodation 
or  refreshment,  and  all  other  particulars  calculated  to  be  of 
service  to  a  Bow  Street  officer.  The  third  compartment 
of  this  extraordinary  book  consisted  of  a  journal,  or  diary, 
in  which  Mr.  Lawrence  Sampson  was  wont  to  enter  minutes 
of  his  proceedings,  remarkable  incidents,  gleanings  and 
experiences,  personal  adventures,  or  any  other  matters 
worth  recording  in  connection  with  his  avocations. 

The  reader  will  naturally  suppose  that  on  discovering 
this  book  of  mysteries  the  curiosity  of  the  Hangman  was 
instantaneously  excited  to  ascertain  first  of  all  whether  his 
own  name  figured  in  the  category  of  bad  characters;  and 
on  turning  to  the  proper  page  and  column,  according  to  the 
alphabetical  arrangement  of  the  entries,  he  not  only  found 
the  name  of  Daniel  Coffin  duly  chronicled,  but  also  the 
startling  fact,  as  proved  by  the  date  annexed,  that  Mr. 
Lawrence  Sampson  had  been  aware  of  his  real  character  for 
some  years  past. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  all  the  low  cribs  and  boozing-kens, 
as  well  as  all  other  vile  haunts  and  infamous  receptacles 
throughout  the  metropolis,  were  chronicled  in  the  second 
compartment.  But  as  the  reader  may  perhaps  be  curious 
to  learn  the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Sampson  kept  his  ledger 
of  demoralization,  debauchery,  poverty,  mendicity,  and 
crime,  we  will  quote  a  few  miscellaneous  extracts  from  this 
division  of  the  great  book: 

"  Rose  and  Crown,  Church  Lane,  St.  Giles's.  Weekly 
club  held  here;  chiefly  of  street-hawkers,  costermongers, 
labourers,  chimney-sweepers,  and  beggars;  the  women 
frequenting  this  place  are  nearly  all  Irish.  A  young  fighting 
fellow  in  a  flannel  jacket  (name  forgotten)  generally  presides; 
always  has  a  plate  before  him  containing  the  subscription- 
money  to  pay  for  the  gin,  beer,  and  tobacco.  Sometimes 
the  company  amuse  themselves  by  dancing  reels;  or  else 
a  fellow  named  Garry,  formerly  in  the  18th  Hussars,  gives  an 
exhibition  of  the  shillalah  dance.  The  landlord's  name  is  — 
Sidney  Smith,  Dock  Street,  Whitechapel.  Evening 
concerts;  dreadful  low  class  of  women,  always  on  the  look- 
out for  sailors  flush  of  cash.  Dancing  as  well  as  music; 
each  person  who  dances  pays  twopence  for  the  benefit  of 
the  musician. 


270  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


The  Black  Bull,  Windmill  Street,  Haymarket.  Music 
and  dancing  at  this  place;  singing  to  a  piano  accompani- 
ment. Most  of  the  men  frequenting  this  house  are  cross- 
coves,  thimblemen,  or  swell-mobsmen;  the  females  are 
women  of  the  town.  A  great  many  juveniles  visit  this 
house,  young  thieves  with  their  girls.  The  waiter  is  a  comic 
fellow,  sings  comic  songs,  is  on  good  terms  with  everybody, 
and  sips  of  everybody's  brandy  and  water  with  the  most 
condescending  friendship;  always  calling  out  for  *  ladies 
and  gentlemen  to  give  their  orders.'  The  songs  sung  at 
this  place  are  not  indecent;  mostly  humourous.  One  of 
the  most  favourite  flash  songs  begins  in  this  way: 

« <  A  cross-cove  is  in  the  street  for  me, 
And  I  a  poor  girl  of  a  low  degree ; 
If  I  was  as  rich  as  I  am  poor, 
Ye  never  should  go  on  the  cross  no  more. 

CHORUS 

"  <  He's  a  right  down  chap,  a  chickle  leary  chap,  and  a  loving  cove !  * 

"  Penny  Theatre,  Shorts'  Gardens.  Frequented  by  boys, 
girls,  and  all  kinds  of  juvenile  thieves  and  prostitutes; 
always  dreadful  bad  language  before  the  curtain  draws  up. 
The  last  night  I  was  there  saw  a  drunken  combat  as 
an  interlude  between  '  George  Barnwell '  and  a  scene  from 
the  '  Beggar^s  Opera.'  Performers  about  ten  in  number; 
most  of  them  go  about  attending  fairs  and  shows  in  the 
season. 

"  Red  House  in  the  Mint.  Two  people  sleep  in  each  bed, 
threepence  a  night.  The  grossest  scenes  of  immorality 
constantly  occurring  in  this  place. 

The  Mogul,  Drury  Lane.  Large  room  holding  several 
hundred  persons;  concerts  and  performances  every  night. 
Frequented  by  all  kinds  of  people;  great  numbers  of  disso- 
lute livery  servants  meet  here,  also  young  apprentices  and 
their  girls.  The  landlord  keeps  it  as  respectable  as  he  possibly 
can. 

"  Thompson's  Lodging-houses,  Castle  Street,  Long  Acre, 
Nos.  23,  24,  25.  Make  up  between  sixty  and  seventy  beds 
between  them.  Thompson  has  similar  houses  over  in  Mint 
Street;  most  detestable  places,  frequented  by  the  worst  of 


THE  HANGMAN  IN  HIS  GLORY  AGAIN  271 


characters.  Every  feeling  of  decency  totally  lost  sight  of, 
persons  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages  sleeping  promiscuously; 
grown-up  brothers  and  sisters  thus  sleep  together. 

Southgate's  Lodging-houses  are  in  Mitre  Court,  St. 
John's  Street;  New  Court,  Cow  Cross,  Smithfield;  Turn- 
mill  Street,  Clerkenwell;  and  on  Saffron  Hill;  altogether 
making  up  three  hundred  beds  every  night. 

"  Grout's  Lodging-houses  in  St.  Giles's  are  filled  with  low 
truckle-beds,  supplied  with  a  straw  mattress,  two  coarse 
sheets,  and  an  old  rug.  Here  the  poor  but  honest  labouring 
man  is  in  nightly  company  with  the  professional  thief; 
while  perhaps  his  wife  and  grown-up  daughters  are  com- 
pelled to  herd  with  the  vilest  prostitutes.  As  a  matter  of 
course,  the  people  frequenting  these  lodging-houses  consist 
of  various  descriptions,  and  each  description  may  again 
be  subdivided  into  various  classes.  It  is  a  most  truthful 
remark  which  I  have  heard,  that  '  the  miscroscope  shows  the 
subdivision  of  atoms,  and  a  minute  inquiry  into  various 
classes  subdivides  society  into  unimagined  grades.' 

''No. — ,  Wentworth  Street,  Whitechapel,  is  a  kinchin- 
ken.  The  fellow  who  keeps  it  is  called  the  kidsman;  he 
boards  and  lodges  young  boys,  training  them  up  to  be 
thieves.  Always  has  at  least  twenty  boys  in  his  establish- 
ment; the  young  ones  are  instructed  by  the  elder,  and  are 
never  allowed  to  go  out  before  they  are  quite  perfect." 

These  and  numerous  other  entries,  especially  those 
regarding  the  Hangman's  favourite  haunts,  met  his  view; 
nor  did  he  fail  to  observe  that  Taggarty's  shop  on  Mutton 
Hill  was  mentioned  in  the  category  as  a  place  where  cheeses, 
flitches  of  bacon,  bladders  of  lard,  and  all  kinds  of  chandlery 
were  purchased  "  without  any  questions  being  asked." 
But  no  words  can  describe  the  amazement,  the  consterna- 
tion, and  even  the  stupefaction  which  seized  upon  Daniel 
Coffin  when  on  searching  for  the  entry  relative  to  Bencull's 
Dark  Crib  in  Jacob's  Island,  he  found  the  following  memoran- 
dum appended:  "  See  my  journal,  Wednesday,  Sept.  19, 
1814,  for  the  account  of  how  I  visited  this  place  disguised 
as  a  knife-grinder,  and  how  I  was  thrown  into  the  black  ditch, 
escaping  with  my  life  in  a  manner  truly  miraculous." 

Yes,  stupefied  indeed  was  the  Hangman  as  these  words 
met  his  view.  All  his  thoughts  were  suddenly  congealed, 
all  his  ideas  were  frozen  in  a  moment.   But  when  he  some- 


272 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


what  recovered  himself,  and  his  reflections  once  more 
flowed  on  in  their  proper  channel,  mystery  after  mystery 
was  cleared  up  relative  to  past  incidents,  and  truth  after 
truth  revealed  itself  to  his  comprehension.  Yes,  for  when 
he  glanced  around  and  beheld  all  those  varied  and  admirably 
contrived  disguises,  he  was  no  longer  at  a  loss  to  understand 
how  the  whole  plot  relative  to  the  burglary  at  Mrs.  Owen's 
had  been  discovered  by  Larry  Sampson;  for  that  the  knife- 
grinder  and  the  officer  were  identical  was  a  fact  now  placed 
beyond  all  possibility  of  doubt;  and  what,  then,  was  more 
probable  but  that  the  country  bumpkin  in  the  tap-room 
of  the  King's  Arms  at  Richmond  was  also  the  ubiquitous 
and  protean  Lawrence  Sampson? 

But  while  he  was  still  pursuing  his  hurried  and  startling 
reflections  in  this  manner,  Daniel  Coflin  hastened  to  turn 
to  the  third  compartment  of  the  great  book;  and  there, 
sure  enough,  he  discovered  a  detailed  account  of  all  the 
officer's  proceedings  while  engaged  in  prosecuting  his 
inquiries  and  researches  into  the  outrage  offered  to  the 
prince  regent  and  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  as  detailed  in 
earlier  chapters  of  our  narrative.  A  further  investigation 
into  Mr.  Sampson's  diary  showed  Daniel  Coffin  that  Taggarty 
had  not  betrayed  him  to  the  officer,  but  that  the  seeming 
beggar-woman  who  had  so  importunately  solicited  alms 
of  him  as  he  issued  from  Taggarty's  house  on  the  night  in 
question  was  in  reality  Lawrence  Sampson.  Other  facts 
did  the  Hangman  also  ascertain  concerning  matters  that 
either  interested  himself  or  those  persons  with  whom  he 
was  connected;  but  we  shall  not  pause  to  enter  into  minuter 
details  now.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  without  for  an  instant 
recollecting  the  possibility,  or  indeed  the  probability,  of 
being  interrupted  while  prying  into  the  mysteries  of  the 
bulky  volume,  he  continued  to  study  its  contents  with  the 
deepest  attention;  and  the  more  profoundly  he  examined 
into  it,  the  more  was  he  astonished  and  bewildered  at  the 
extraordinary  mass  of  information  which  Lawrence  Samp- 
son had  acquired  relative  to  all  the  bad  characters  and  flash 
houses  in  London.  Nor  less  was  the  Hangman  astounded 
at  the  remarkable  perseverance,  the  unflinching  dauntless- 
ness,  the  exquisite  skill,  and  the  reckless  indifference  to 
danger  which  characterized  the  Bow  Street  ofiicer,  and 
which  qualities  were  made  apparent  enough  by  the  various 


THE  HANGMAN  IN  HIS  GLORY  AGAIN  273 


adventures,  enterprises,  and  proceedings  chronicled  in  the 
diary. 

We  must,  however,  leave  Daniel  Coffin  for  a  few  minutes 
to  peruse  the  entries  chiefly  regarding  himself  or  his  com- 
panions in  iniquity,  while  we  proceed  to  furnish  our  readers 
with  a  few  specimens  of  those  parts  of  Mr.  Sampson's  journal 
which  may  be  termed  his  comments  or  experiences.  And 
therefore,  without  further  preface,  we  quote  the  following 
extracts : 

''ParUament  being  over,  most  of  the  beggars  are  going 
out  of  town  to  make  the  round  of  the  country-seats  of  the 
nobility  and  gentry.  A  great  many  of  them  are  dressed 
like  old  soldiers  or  sailors;  and  they  are  all  well  provided 
with  lists  of  those  houses  and  estates  where  military  or 
naval  officers  dwell.  Be  it  observed  that  before  the  beggars 
go  out  into  the  country  upon  these  expeditions,  they  meet 
at  certain  cadgers'-haunts,  low  lodging-houses,  or  boozing- 
kens  in  London,  and  exchange  information  as  to  what 
country-seats  are  good  to  call  at.  Because  as  the  same 
parties  cannot  call  twice  at  the  same  place  during  the 
season,  they  lose  nothing  by  giving  each  other  such  infor- 
mation. In  fact,  it  is  a  constant  practice  with  beggars  to 
compare  notes  in  this  manner.  When  once  out  in  the  country 
in  autumn,  they  remain  out  while  the  hareskin  time  is  on; 
because  while  buying  and  selling  hareskins  they  are  able 
to  pass  away  a  great  quantity  of  bad  money. 

Women  hire  infants  for  fourpence  or  sixpence  a  day 
each,  and  make  at  least  five  shiUings  a  day  by  carrying  them 
about,  —  particularly  if  a  woman  hires  two  children  at 
the  same  time  and  represents  them  as  twins. 

There  are  some  beggars  who  know  every  good  house 
in  the  country.  Some  who  go  the  highfly,  or  play  the  part 
of  broken-down  gentlemen,  manage  to  make  ten  or  fifteen 
pounds  a  week.  Sometimes  they  take  drawings  with 
them,  which  they  present  to  the  ladies  whom  they  see  at 
parlour  windows,  or  walking  in  gardens,  or  on  lawns,  at 
country-seats,  leaving  the  reward  to  their  generosity. 
Sometimes  they  bribe  gentlemen's  servants  to  take  in  their 
begging  letters,  and  just  throw  in  any  little  word  of  com- 
miseration that  may  assist  their  case.  Just  the  opposite  of 
these  are  the  beggars  that  go  upon  the  shallow,  —  that  is, 
half-naked.     They  obtain  from  compassionate  persons 


274 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


quantities  of  left-off  clothes,  by  which  they  make  as  much 
sometimes  as  twelve  or  fifteen  shillings  per  day.  This  is 
one  of  the  most  lucrative  systems  of  beggary;  but  it  of 
course  succeeds  best  in  the  cold  weather,  when  the  beggars 
manage  to  shiver  and  shake  like  aspens,  and  thus  attract 
a  vast  amount  of  sympathy.  The  system  of  hawking  is 
also  excellent;  many  small  shopkeepers  do  not  make  in  a 
day  so  much  as  some  of  these  itinerant  venders.  Take  for 
instance,  a  pair  of  knit  cotton  braces;  the  hawker  buys 
them  at  fourpence,  and  sells  them  at  one  shilling  and  two- 
pence, or  at  all  events  a  shilling.  He  puts  on  the  extra 
halfpence,  expecting  to  be  beaten  down. 

Beggars  not  only  provide  themselves  with  lists  of  the 
residences  of  benevolent  people  in  town  and  country,  but 
also  have  lists  of  all  charitable  societies  and  institutions, 
to  which  they  constantly  apply  in  the  winter,  such  as  for 
coals,  potatoes,  etc.,  which  they  always  sell  as  soon  as 
obtained  for  half  their  value.  Women  get  baby-linen, 
tickets  of  admission  to  lying-in-hospitals,  etc.,  all  of  which 
they  immediately  sell  for  what  they  can  get. 

''Of  an  evening  in  London,  the  beggars  meet  at  their 
favourite  haunts,  where  they  eat  and  drink  of  the  best. 
At  night  they  generally  stay  indoors  and  get  drunk;  but 
a  few  of  them  dress  themselves  out  in  decent  style  and  go 
to  the  cheap  concerts  or  to  low  gaming-houses.  In  Petti- 
coat Lane,  Whitechapel,  there  are  several  low  gaming- 
houses, kept  by  Jews;  and  as  it  is  chiefly  here  that  the 
beggars  sell  the  clothes  which  they  obtain  when  out  on 
the  shallow,  so  it  is  hither  they  come  to  lose  their  ill-got 
money  again  at  the  gaming-table.  Nearly  all  the  Jews  in 
Petticoat  Lane  are  receivers  of  stolen  goods,  or  fences; 
one  or  two  of  them  keep  fence-shops  up  at  the  West  End 
as  branch  establishments,  and  even  sometimes  send  large 
quantities  of  stolen  property  abroad.  There  are  a  great 
many  publicans  who  buy  stolen  property,  and  then  sell  it 
again  at  a  profit  to  the  Jew  fences.  Some  of  these  Jews 
go  into  the  country  once  or  twice  a  year,  travel  from  town 
to  town,  and  sell  to  country-dealers  the  plunder  of  the 
metropolis.  There  are  many  Christian  jewellers  and 
silversmiths  who  buy  property  direct  from  thieves; 
and  it  is  common  enough  with  refiners,  who  never  ask 
any  questions  at  all.     The  wealthiest  Jew  fences  have 


THE  HANGMAN  IN  HIS  GLORY  AGAIN  275 


agents,  and  are  themselves  but  seldom  seen  in  the  trans- 
actions. 

"  Another  dangerous  class  of  persons  who  profit  by  the 
crimes  which  they  do  not  directly  commit  themselves  are 
the  putters-up  of  burglaries;  and  these  are  very  often 
marine-store  dealers,  or  else  flashy-looking  fellows  frequent- 
ing public-houses.  This  latter  class  is  specially  dangerous; 
they  get  hold  of  servant  girls  who  come  to  fetch  the  beer, 
pretend  to  court  them,  worm  out  of  them  the  secrets  of 
the  houses  to  which  they  belong,  and  then  give  the  requisite 
information  to  the  cracksmen  or  burglars.  Livery  servants 
are  frequently  putters-up  of  burglaries.  The  cracksman 
or  burglar  generally  dresses  shabby,  like  a  distressed  trades- 
man; they  remain  all  day  in  low  public-houses  or  boozing- 
kens,  drinking  or  playing  at  skittles. 

"  At  the  bottom  of  Red  Lion  Street,  Cler  ken  well,  is  Capel 
Court;  and  there  lives  a  blacksmith  who  makes  house- 
breakers' implements.  Cracksmen  go  to  him  and  give  their 
orders;  he  tells  them  when  the  implements  will  be  ready, 
and  appoints  to  meet  them  at  some  boozing-ken,  perhaps 
quite  in  another  part  of  London.  The  sum  agreed  upon  is 
paid  at  this  interview;  and  the  blacksmith  hands  over  a 
brown  paper  parcel,  containing  all  the  implements,  stating 
that  the  packet  has  just  come  up  from  the  country." 

Having  thus  afforded  our  readers  a  specimen  of  Mr.  Larry 
Sampson's  diary,  we  will  now  return  to  the  Hangman, 
whom  we  left  busily  engaged  in  consulting  those  entries 
and  statements  which  specially  regarded  himself  and  the 
members  of  the  gang  to  which  he  belonged. 

He  was  still  deep  in  his  somewhat  unpleasant  though 
interesting  studies,  when  the  thought  suddenly  floated  to 
his  mind  that  he  was  incurring  a  great  risk  of  detention  by 
prolonging  his  intrusion  in  the  privacy  of  the  officer's 
sanctum.  He  therefore  resolved  to  beat  a  precipitate  retreat ; 
and  closing  the  book,  he  stole  forth  from  the  room,  shut  the 
door  behind  him,  relocked  it  by  means  of  the  skeleton  key 
which  had  ere  now  opened  it,  and  then  crept  stealthily 
down-stairs  into  the  breakfast-parlour. 

Fortunate  indeed  was  it  that  he  took  this  step  just  at 
the  moment;  for  scarcely  had  he  seated  himself  in  the 
parlour,  when  Dame  Margery  made  her  appearance. 

Mr.  Sampson,"  she  said,     has  this  moment  sent  up 


276  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


from  Bow  Street  to  inform  me  that  he  shall  not  be  home 
to  dinner,  and  indeed  that  I  must  not  expect  to  see  him 
before  the  evening,  as  some  pressing  business  has  trans- 
pired to  demand  his  immediate  attention  elsewhere." 

"  Oh,  very  well,  ma'am,"  said  Daniel  Coffin,  inwardly 
rejoicing  to  think  that  he  had  not  been  surprised  by  the  old 
dame  up  in  her  master's  private  room.  "  Then  I  needn't 
wait  any  longer,  and  so  I'll  call  another  day." 

"  Who  shall  I  say  has  been?  "  inquired  the  housekeeper. 

The  Hangman  hesitated  a  moment  whether  he  should 
give  his  name;  but  immediately  recollecting  that  the  woman 
need  only  describe  his  personal  appearance  in  order  to  make 
her  master  understand  who  the  visitor  was,  he  said,  boldly, 

Mr.  Dan'el  Coffin,  of  Fleet  Lane." 

"  Ah! "  she  ejaculated,  her  looks  filling  with  evident 
disgust  and  horror  as  the  mention  of  that  name,  striking 
upon  her  ear  like  a  pestilence  upon  the  entire  frame,  revealed 
to  her  the  fact  that  she  stood  in  the  presence  of  the  pubUc 
executioner.  "  Good  morning,  good  morning,"  she  hurriedly 
observed,  as  she  flew  to  open  the  front  door  with  an 
undisguised  longing  for  the  departure  of  so  unwelcome  a 
visitant. 

"  Good  morning,  ma'am,"  said  Coffin,  not  choosing  to 
take  any  notice  of  her  altered  manner;  and  he  issued  from 
the  house. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 


THE  CONSULTATION 

It  was  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  of 
the  same  day,  that  the  Hangman  knocked  at  the  door  of 
Bencull's  dark  crib  in  Mill  Street,  Jacob's  Island.  He  was 
no  longer  apparelled  in  his  Sunday's  best,  having  put  off  his 
gala  garb  on  his  return  from  Larry  Sampson's  house;  and  he 
was  now  attired  in  his  usual  coarse  and  ruffian-looking  style. 

"  Who's  there? "  demanded  the  well-known  voice  of 
BencuU  from  within. 

"  Mr.  Dan'el  Coffin,"  was  the  answer,  accompanied  by 
a  peculiar  whistle. 

"All  right!"  said  Bencull;  and  the  next  moment  the 
door  was  opened. 

Anybody  here  yet?  "  demanded  the  Hangman,  as  he 
entered  the  passage  of  that  ominous-looking  house. 

"  No,  nobody  yet,"  replied  Bencull,  as  he  closed  and 
bolted  the  street  door. 

"  So  much  the  better,"  observed  Coffin;  "  because  I  want 
to  speak  to  you  very  particular  indeed." 

The  two  men  proceeded  into  the  back  room  which  has 
been  described  in  a  previous  chapter.  Liquor  and  pipes 
were  produced;  and  when  the  glasses  were  filled  and  the 
blue  wreaths  of  the  tobacco-smoke  were  curling  upward, 
Bencull  said,  "  Now,  old  fellow,  what  is  it?  " 

Well,  my  worthy  friend,"  responded  the  Hangman, 
looking  moodily  solemn  and  savagely  serious  as  he  spoke, 
''I've  made  a  discovery  to-day  that  regards  me,  you, 
everybody  pretty  nearly  that  we  know,  and  thousands  of 
folk  besides." 

"  What  the  devil  do  you  mean,  Dan'el?  "  exclaimed  the 
landlord  of  the  dark  crib,  taking  his  pipe  from  his  mouth 

277 


278  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


and  gazing  with  mingled  astonishment  and  alarm  upon  his 
companion. 

"  Why,  I  mean  that  there's  a  man  in  existence,"  replied 
Coffin,  "  who  for  years  past  has  been  spreading  out  a  great 
web  until  he  has  covered  the  whole  of  London  with  the 
invisible  meshes.  And  in  the  middle  of  this  web  does  he 
sit  like  a  sharp,  cunning  spider;  while  hundreds  of  flies 
are  getting  entangled  in  it  without  knowing  it,  as  one  may 
say,  so  that  this  great  spider  has  got  nothing  to  do  but  to 
come  forth  at  any  moment  and  seize  upon  any  one  of  the 
flies  that  it  fancies  for  its  own  precious  picking.  Or  else 
maybe  it  will  bide  its  time  and  pounce  upon  half  a  dozen 
or  a  dozen  at  a  time,  and  of  course  make  a  terrible  smash  of 
them  all." 

I  say,  Dan'el,  I  can  patter  flash  as  well  as  any  cross- 
cove  going,"  observed  Bencull;  "  but,  by  jingo,  if  I  can 
understand  a  single  word  of  all  this  gibberish  that  you've 
been  jabbering.  Come  now,  let's  have  a  bit  of  English; 
'cos  why,  all  that  there  is  Greek  to  me." 

I  can  deuced  soon  explain  myself,"  rejoined  the  Hang- 
man. "  Only  fancy  that  Larry  Sampson  is  this  precious 
great  spider,  and  that  all  the  cross-coves,  macers,  magsmen, 
prigs,  and  cracksmen  in  London  are  the  flies.  Now  do  you 
understand  me?  " 

I  begin  to  do  so,"  answered  Bencull;  "  but  only  just 
as  a  feller  has  a  wacant  idea  of  what  he's  about  just  when 
he's  getting  sober  after  a  deuced  good  booze." 

''Then  listen,"  said  the  Hangman.  "Larry  Sampson 
has  got  a  thundering  big  book,  divided  into  three  parts. 
In  the  first  part  he  puts  down  the  names  of  all  people  that 
the  law  looks  with  a  suspicious  eye  upon;  and  I  need  hardly 
tell  you  that  your  name  and  mine  ain't  omitted.  In  the 
second  division  of  the  book,  there's  a  hst  of  all  the  flash 
cribs,  fence-shops,  and  travellers'  houses  in  London;  and 
again  I  need  hardly  say  that  your  establishment  isn^t 
forgotten.  But  what's  more,  every  soul  frequenting  it  is 
also  put  down  in  Larry's  book;  so  there's  me  to  begin  with, 
then  Jeremy  Humpage,  next  the  Swag  Chovey  Bloak,  then 
Bob  the  Durrynacker,  the  Mushroom  Faker,  the  Highflyer 
of  Fakements,  the  Buttoner,  Nell  Gibson,  and,  in  fact,  all 
the  select  company  that  honour  Mr.  Bencull's  house  with 
their  presence." 


THE  CONSULTATION 


279 


"  Well,  I'm  not  over  and  above  surprised  to  hear  this," 
observed  the  landlord  of  the  dark  crib.  Of  course  Larry 
Sampson  knows  all  these  things;  his  spies  are  everywhere  —  " 
Wait  a  moment,  old  fellow,"  exclaimed  Coffin,  "  and 
just  hear  what  the  third  part  of  this  great  book  says.  It's 
a  sort  of  narrative  or  journal  of  all  Larry's  proceedings, 
adventures,  and  enterprises;  and  what  will  you  think  when 
I  tell  you  that  that  knife-grinding  fellow  which  we  chucked 
over  into  the  ditch  was  never  drowned  at  all,  but  is  aUve 
and  kicking  at  this  moment." 

No,  by  jingo!  is  this  true?"  cried  Bencull,  turning 
deadly  pale.  Why,  'tis  enough  to  hang  us  all!  "  and  he 
put  his  hand  to  his  throat,  as  if  he  already  experienced  the 
unpleasant  sensation  produced  by  the  contact  of  a  halter. 

"  I  can't  be  hanged  for  it,  at  all  events,"  exclaimed 
Daniel  Coffin,  seeing  that  I've  got  the  royal  pardon  safe 
and  sound  in  my  pocket.  But  you  haven't  heard  quite  all 
yet;  for  if  you  are  astonished  at  what  I've  already  told 
you,  I  don't  know  how  you'll  feel  when  I  tell  you  that  the 
knife-grinder  and  Larry  Sampson  were  one  and  the  same 
person.  " 

"  Nonsense!  "  ejaculated  Bencull,  half-starting  from  his 
chair,  and  chucking  down  his  pipe  so  abruptly  upon  the 
table  that  it  broke  into  a  dozen  pieces.  You  are  either 
mad  or  drunk,  Dan'el.   Which  the  devil  is  it?  " 

"  Neither,  you  fool,"  answered  the  Hangman,  with  one 
of  his  characteristic  growls.  What  I  tell  you  is  true; 
and  more  than  that,  I  have  read  in  the  great  book  sufficient 
to  show  me  that  Larry  Sampson  is  acquainted  with  the 
secrets  of  nearly  the  whole  lot  of  cross-coves  in  London." 

But  why  doesn't  he  take  us  up  by  hundreds,  and  have 
us  hung  by  twenties  at  a  time?  "  asked  Bencull,  gathering 
courage  from  the  reflection  which  prompted  the  query. 

"  Why,  don't  you  see,"  exclaimed  Coffin,  impatiently, 
"  that  there's  a  wide  deal  of  difference  between  knowing 
all  these  kind  of  things,  and  being  able  to  get  together  the 
necessary  evidence  to  convict  a  chap  at  the  Old  Bailey. 
But  you  do  see  that  Larry  is  constantly  nabbing  fellows 
under  extraordinary  circumstances.  Look  how  he  ferrets 
them  out,  traces  their  whole  proceedings,  follows  them,  as 
one  may  say,  step  by  step,  from  the  moment  they  plan  a 
crime  till  the  instant  it  is  completed,  brings  the  whole  mass 


280  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


of  evidence  to  burst  like  a  storm  around  them,  and  sends 
them  to  the  scaffold  at  last.  Don't  you  see  this  constantly 
being  done,  I  say?  And  isn't  it  often  a  matter  of  wonder 
how  Larry  does  contrive  to  bring  things  home  to  people? 
Well,  then,  now  it  ceases  to  be  a  matter  of  wonder,  after  all 
that  I  have  seen  and  learned  to-day." 

The  Hangman  then  proceeded  to  inform  his  friend  Ben- 
cull  how  he  had  penetrated  into  Larry  Sampson's  private 
apartment,  and  how  he  had  beheld  there  all  the  costumes 
and  other  accessories  for  an  infinite  variety  of  complete 
disguises.  BencuU  was  as  much  amazed  and  as  thoroughly 
petrified  with  wonder  at  hearing  this  recital  as  Coffin 
himself  had  been  when  first  entering  that  mysterious  apart- 
ment at  Sampson's  house.  Indeed,  several  minutes  elapsed 
ere  BencuU  could  recover  in  the  slightest  degree  from  that 
stupor  into  which  he  was  thus  plunged. 

Well,  there  is  one  thing  I  can't  understand,"  he  said, 
at  length,  when  he  had  lighted  another  pipe  and  taken  a 
few  whiffs.  "  How  was  it  that  within  an  hour  after  Larry 
Sampson  escaped  from  the  ditch  behind  this  house  he  did 
not  have  you  and  me  and  all  the  others  taken  up  and  lodged 
in  Newgate  at  once?  " 

Oh,  I  can  understand  his  reason  full  well,"  returned  the 
Hangman.  You  was  one  of  the  party  that  did  that  job 
with  the  prince  and  Marquis  of  Leveson  at  Beechey  Manor." 

"  Well,  what  of  that?  "  exclaimed  Bencull. 

"  Only  that  Larry  Sampson,  as  it  appears  by  his  book, 
was  employed  to  sift  that  affair  to  the  bottom,"  continued 
Daniel  Coffin;  "  and  the  better  to  follow  out  his  researches, 
he  took  the  disguise  of  a  knife-grinder,  first  going  down  to 
Richmond  to  make  inquiries  there,  and  then  coming  down 
here.  Now,  if  he  had  handed  us  all  over  to  justice,  he  would 
have  had  to  say  why  he  came  to  the  dark  crib,  so  as  to  make 
out  his  tale;  and  that  would  have  been  to  tell  on  what 
special  service  he  was  engaged  at  the  time,  and  consequently 
to  proclaim  to  the  whole  world  what  had  happened  to  the 
prince  and  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  on  a  certain  memorable 
night.  But  as  neither  the  prince  nor  the  marquis  wanted 
it  known  at  all,  but,  on  the  contrary,  had  certain  reasons  of 
their  own  for  wishing  it  to  be  kept  deuced  quiet,  Larry 
Sampson  thought  it  best  to  hold  his  peace  about  his  adven- 
ture down  here." 


THE  CONSULTATION 


281 


"  Well,  all  this  may  be  likely  enough,"  said  Bencull; 

but  still  it's  quite  clear  that  Larry  knows  a  great  deal  more 
than  is  convenient.  And  now  I  recollect,  the  night  when 
he  was  down  here  disguised  as  a  knife-grinder,  he  went  up- 
stairs and  saw  old  Jeremy  Humpage  —  " 

"  Well,  well,"  interrupted  the  Hangman;  "  never  mind 
anything  about  the  details  of  what  happened  on  that  par- 
ticular night.  What  we  have  chiefly  to  think  about  at 
present  is  whether  we  are  to  take  any  step  to  ensure  our 
safety  for  the  future." 

In  what  way?  "  asked  Bencull,  with  that  kind  of  omi- 
nously significant  look  which  showed  that  he  had  caught 
an  inkling  of  the  idea  then  uppermost  in  the  Hangman's 
mind.  "  Come,  speak  out,  Dan'el;  you  and  me  are  old  pals, 
and  can  trust  each  other." 

Then  my  mind  is  made  up  as  to  Larry  Sampson," 
answered  Coffin.  "  It's  quite  clear  that  no  business  is  to 
be  done  in  future  with  any  degree  of  safety,  as  long  as  Larry 
is  aUve.  He  has  got  a  halter  around  your  neck,  and  around 
the  necks  of  all  our  pals  and  confederates,  and  he  won't 
be  long  before  he  gets  one  around  my  neck  again  also.  And 
when  it  is  considered  that  he  can  pull  these  halters  tight  at 
any  moment  he  chooses,  by  Satan!  to  make  away  with  such 
a  fellow  would  be  conferring  a  blessing  on  the  whole  fra- 
ternity." 

You  and  me,  Dan'el,"  observed  Bencull,  jerking  his 
pipe  toward  the  back  of  the  house,  have  shoved  out  more 
than  one  stiff  'un  into  the  black  ditch;  and  therefore  I  don't 
see  why  we  should  hesitate  in  making  a  croaker  of  Mr. 
Larry  Sampson." 

To  be  sure  not,  and  it  shall  be  done!  "  cried  the  Hang- 
man. But  we  must  also  take  measures  to  get  possession 
of  his  book  at  the  same  time  that  we  do  his  business  for 
him;  or  else,  if  that  great  volume  fell  into  the  hands  of 
another  officer,  it  would  soon  put  him  into  the  right  way  of 
becoming  as  knowing,  and  consequently  as  dangerous,  as 
Larry  Sampson  himself." 

Well,  have  you  got  any  scheme  in  your  head?  "  de- 
manded Bencull. 

Larry  Sampson  must  be  enticed  down  here,"  said  the 
Hangman,  by  some  means  or  another;  and  while  you  and 
two  or  three  of  our  most  trustworthy  pals  are  doing  his 


282  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


business  for  him,  I  will  call  at  his  house  in  Long  Acre  on 
some  pretence  and  get  possession  of  the  great  book." 

"  Well  and  good,"  said  Bencull.  But  how  the  deuce 
do  you  hope  to  entice  Larry  to  trust  himself  again  in  the 
dark  crib?  " 

"  Cunning  as  he  is,  let  us  see  if  we  can't  be  more  cunning 
still.  What  think  you  of  planting  some  woman  upon  him 
to  make  him  believe  that  through  revenge  she  wants  to 
betray  a  scheme  in  which  her  flash  man  is  engaged?  This 
looks  so  devilish  nat'ral,  if  we  could  only  get  a  blowen  of 
the  right  sort  to  carry  it  out." 

"  What  say  you  to  Nell  Gibson?  "  demanded  Bencull. 
"  She's  the  most  artfullest  gal  which  I  ever  happened  to  be 
acquainted  with,  besides  which,  she's  got  such  a  way  of 
looking  so  precious  innocent  and  sincere  when  she's  really 
plotting  the  deepest  mischief." 

"  Yes,  we'll  make  use  of  Nell  Gibson  in  this  matter. 
But  are  you  quite  sure  that  Nell  is  the  most  trustworthy 
young  woman  that  we  could  employ  in  the  matter?  You 
know  her  better  than  I  do." 

"  Why,  my  maxim  always  is  never  to  trust  any  woman 
farther  than  you  can  see  her,"  rephed  Bencull;  "  and  there- 
fore it's  my  advice  that  while  setting  Nell  Gibson  to  work 
against  Larry  Sampson,  we  should  also  set  somebody  to 
watch  Nell  Gibson." 

"  A  very  capital  plan  of  yours,  old  fellow,"  observed  the 
Hangman.  "  And  now,  taking  it  for  granted  that  Nell 
Gibson  will  embark  in  this  business,  who  shall  we  plant  in 
turn  upon  her?  " 

"  Well,  of  all  coveys  that  ever  come  to  this  house," 
answered  Bencull,  after  a  few  moments'  reflection,  "  that 
Buttoner,  or  thimble-rig  feller,  is  the  downiest.  Besides 
which,  he's  been  rayther  sweet  upon  Nell  Gibson  for  some 
time  past;  but  Nell  won't  have  nothing  to  say  to  him 
because  he's  down  in  his  luck,  and  hasn't  done  overwell 
lately.  If  we  was  only  to  rig  him  out  with  new  toggery 
from  head  to  foot,  give  him  a  few  cooters  to  flash  about 
with,  and  set  him  up  in  Swell  Street,  Nell  would  precious 
soon  take  up  with  him,  'cos  he's  not  a  bad-looking  chap  by 
no  means." 

Well,  I  don't  mind  venturing  fifteen  or  twenty  guineas 
for  this  part  of  the  business,"  observed  the  Hangman; 


THE  CONSULTATION 


283 


"  and  you  can  therefore  make  it  all  right  with  the  But- 
toner." 

Agreed,"  said  Bencull. 

The  Hangman  accordingly  produced  his  pocketbook  and 
drew  forth  bank-notes  to  the  amount  of  twenty  pounds, 
which  he  handed  to  his  accomplice;  then  rising  from  his 
seat,  he  said,  I  will  go  and  see  Nell  Gibson  at  once.  She 
lives  at  Mother  Young's,  don't  she?  " 

"  Yes,  where  that  old  witch  Mother  Franklin  is,"  replied 
Bencull. 

"  To  be  sure,  —  I  know  all  about  it.  I've  been  there  often 
enough  before.  So  I'll  just  go  and  make  it  all  right  with 
Nell,  and  will  then  come  back  to  take  another  glass  with 
you.   Perhaps  I  shall  bring  her  with  me." 

Daniel  Coffin  then  quitted  the  dark  crib. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 


NELL  GIBSON 

Turning  abruptly  out  of  Mill  Street  into  the  narrow 
passage  that  went  shelving  down  toward  the  black  ditch, 
the  Hangman  hastily  traversed  the  rickety  old  wooden 
bridge,  pausing  only  for  an  instant  to  cast  a  look  down  on 
that  stagnant  water,  the  surface  of  which  seemed  hke  black 
marble  as  the  feeble  moonhght  played  upon  it.  Cutting 
straight  through  the  fearful  rookery  constituting  Jacob's 
Island,  he  passed  over  another  bridge  on  the  farther  side, 
and  at  once  plunged  into  the  maze  of  vile,  narrow,  dark, 
and  filthy  streets  in  the  immediate  vicinage. 

In  a  few  minutes  Daniel  Coffin  reached  a  street  somewhat 
wider  and  to  all  appearances  more  respectable  than  the 
rest;  and  presently  he  paused  at  a  house  whose  shutters, 
blinds,  and  door  were  all  green.  A  subdued  fight  shone  forth 
from  every  window,  and  the  sounds  of  several  female  voices 
emanated  from  the  front  room  on  the  ground  floor.  The 
Hangman  knocked  at  the  door,  which  was  opened  by  a 
very  stout,  red-faced  woman  of  fifty.  She  was  dressed  in 
a  shabby  black  silk  gown;  a  faded  neckerchief,  that  once 
had  displayed  the  gaudiest  colours,  was  thrown  over  her 
immense  shoulders;  and  a  dirty  cap,  adorned  with  tawdry 
ribbons,  was  set  awry  upon  her  head,  either  through  a 
fingering  sentiment  of  coquetry  which  had  not  deserted  her 
though  she  had  fallen  into  the  sear  and  yellow  leaf,  or  else 
for  the  less  romantic  reason  of  having  been  thrust  aside  in 
some  scuffie.  She  wore  a  false  front  to  conceal"  the  hair 
which  years  of  debauchery  had  tended  even  more  than  time 
to  rob  of  its  pristine  darkness;  the  tip  of  her  nose  was 
rubicund  and  shining,  and  if  any  other  evidence  had  been 
wanting  to  prove  her  devotion  to  the  bottle,  it  might  have 

284 


NELL  GIBSON 


285 


been  perceived  in  the  strong  odour  of  the  juniper  which 
infected  her  breath.  A  trumpery  mosaic  chain  hung  around 
her  great  thick  neck;  and  two  or  three  flaring  rings  of  base 
metal,  set  with  great  pieces  of  coloured  glass,  were  stuck 
upon  her  very  dirty  fingers. 

She  held  a  candle  in  her  hand;  and  the  moment  the  hght 
fell  upon  the  Hangman's  countenance  she  exclaimed, 
''Ah!  Mr.  Coffin  is  that  you?  Well,  I  raly  am  delighted  to 
see  you  ahve  again,  after  hearing  as  how  you  was  dead  and 
feeding  the  fishes  in  the  Thames.  But,  howsomever,  you 
are  not  looking  the  wuss  for  your  late  adventures." 

Not  a  bit,  mother;  they  did  me  good,  on  the  contrary," 
observed  the  Hangman,  with  a  low  chuckle,  and  with  as 
amiable  a  look  as  such  a  hangdog  countenance  as  his  own 
could  possibly  assume;  besides  which,  you  see,  I've  re- 
sumed office  at  the  Old  Bailey  again." 

"  I  read  all  about  it,  Mr.  Coffin,  in  the  newspapers," 
returned  the  woman;  "  and  I  was  struck  all  of  a  heap  when 
I  seed  how  sudden  you  turned  up  again.  But  I  hope,"  she 
added,  with  a  leering  smile  of  coarse  familiarity,  that  if 
so  be  I  should  come  to  Tuck-up  Fair  to  dance  upon  nothing, 
you'll  treat  me  as  a  lady  should  be  treated  at  a  gentleman's 
hands." 

"  That  I  will,  mother,"  exclaimed  Coffin,  with  a  laugh 
which  almost  sounded  ominous  to  the  woman's  ears,  and 
made  her  repent  of  her  joke  as  it  sent  a  shudder  coldly 
quivering  through  her  frame.  ''  Depend  upon  it  that  if  ever 
you  come  to  be  taught  the  fall  of  a  leaf  in  the  Old  Bailey,  I'll 
make  the  hempen  neckcloth  as  comfortable  for  your  old  neck 
as  possible;  and  I'll  let  the  drop  fall  so  gentle  under  your 
feet  that  you  shall  slide  down  as  easy  as  a  boy  off  a  haystack." 

Well,  come  in,  come  in,  Mr.  Coffin,"  said  Mrs.  Young, 
somewhat  impatiently,  as  if  she  had  had  quite  enough  of  that 
terrible  tragi-comic  jesting.  Come  in,  I  say,  and  wash 
your  mouth  out  with  a  drop  of  summat  short." 

Thus  speaking,  the  woman  led  the  way  into  the  little 
front  parlour,  where  an  immense  fire  blazed  in  the  grate, 
giving  forth  a  stifling  heat.  Huddled  together  on  an  old 
faded  rickety  sofa  sat  four  young  women,  whose  faces 
highly  coloured  with  rouge,  shameless  exposure  of  the 
bosom,  and  immodest  looks,  but  too  plainly  announced 
their  avocation.   Lounging  in  an  armchair  near  the  fire  sat 


286  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Nell  Gibson,  with  one  of  her  feet  upon  an  old  footstool,  and 
the  other  resting  upon  the  hob,  while  her  form  was  thrown 
back  with  a  lascivious  abandonment  mingled  with  reckless 
indolence.  She  was,  however,  dressed  more  neatly  and  care- 
fully than  the  girls  upon  the  sofa,  whose  apparel  was  a  mix- 
ture of  poverty-stricken  meanness  and  scantiness,  disguised 
and  embellished  as  much  as  possible  by  tawdry  finery.  But 
Nell  Gibson  wore  a  good  stuff  dress,  cut  very  low  in  front  so 
as  to  display  the  really  fine  bust  which  had  not  yet  entirely 
lost  the  first  freshness  of  youth.  Her  arms,  too,  were  bare, 
but  they  were  plump  and  white;  the  hands  were  not  only 
well  made,  but  also  scrupulously  clean;  and  her  well-shaped 
legs  were  provided  with  clean  white  stockings  and  a  new  pair 
of  shoes.  In  fine,  this  young  woman  was  altogether  of  a 
beauty  that  shone  in  remarkable  contrast  with  the  faded 
forms  and  worn-out  looks  of  the  girls  upon  the  sofa.  For, 
alas!  although  these  latter  females  were  still  but  mere  girls 
as  to  age,  yet  were  they  old  women,  yes,  old,  old  women  in 
sad  experience,  and  also  in  the  waste  and  ruin  of  those 
charms  which,  even  at  the  age  of  one  or  two  and  twenty, 
required  cosmetics  to  conceal  the  ravages  of  dissipation. 

Having  paid  his  respects  to  Nell  Gibson  and  the  other 
females,  the  Hangman  desired  Mrs.  Young  to  produce  a 
couple  of  bottles  of  wine;  and  as  he  threw  down  a  guinea  at 
the  same  moment,  the  woman  bustled  about  with  alacrity 
to  give  the  necessary  order.  An  old  harridan  of  nearly 
ninety,  bent  double  with  age,  and  who  had  passed  the  whole 
of  her  long  life  in  houses  of  crime,  acted  as  Mrs.  Young's 
servant;  and  she  was  accordingly  despatched  to  the  nearest 
pubhc-house  to  fetch  the  wine.  When  she  returned  and 
placed  the  bottles  upon  the  table,  the  Hangman  exclaimed, 
in  a  bantering  tone,  "  Halloa!  Mother  Frankhn,  are  you 
still  aUve?  " 

"  Yes,  you  see  I  be,"  answered  the  old  hag,  wagging  her 
toothless  jaws  with  a  merry  laugh. 

"  Why,  how  old  are  you  now,  you  witch?  "  demanded  the 
Hangman. 

"  Eighty-nine,  come  next  Febiverry,"  responded  the  hag; 
"  and  you'll  never  reach  that  age,  Mr.  Coffin,  for  you're 
doomed  to  go  out  of  the  world  in  the  same  way  as  you've 
helped  a  many  others  to  quit  it,"  and  she  laughed  with  a 
hideous  cackling  sound  that  presently  merged  into  a  choking 


NELL  GIBSON 


287 


cough  which  brought  the  scalding  rheum  into  her  bleared 
eyes. 

By  Satan! exclaimed  Coffin,  ferociously,  "  I  shall  have 
the  satisfaction  of  tucking  you  up  before  I  die,  you  infernal 
old  beldam!  Why,  I  don't  believe  you  were  ever  in  a  respect- 
able house  in  your  life!  " 

That's  true  enough,"  answered  the  hag,  with  her  horrible 
chuckle.  ''I  was  born  in  such  a  house  as  this,  I  was  bred  in 
it,  I  became  prematurely  old  in  it,"  she  continued,  glancing 
significantly  toward  the  girls  upon  the  sofa.  I  have  been 
the  child  of  crime,  the  mother  of  crime,  and  the  widow  of 
crime;  and  now  I  may  say  I  am  the  great-great-grand- 
mother of  crime.  Lord  bless  ye,  you  won't  see  one  in  a 
thousand,  no,  nor  yet  one  in  a  milhon,  that  comes  to  my 
age  after  passing  all  one's  Hfe  in  such  houses  as  this  here. 
They  mostly  die  in  ditches,  or  on  dunghills,  or  in  hospitals 
or  workhouses,  long,  long  before  they  come  to  even  half 
my  age." 

''Hold  your  tongue,  you  old  witch!"  ejaculated  Nell 
Gibson,  half-starting  from  her  chair  in  a  rage.  I  declare 
if  you're  allowed  to  let  your  tongue  run  on  hke  this,  I'll 
leave  the  house." 

''  It's  shameful  to  let  Mother  Frankhn  talk  just  as  she 
likes,"  observed  the  young  females  upon  the  sofa;  but  they 
did  not  threaten  to  leave  the  house,  for  they  were  entirely 
in  Mrs.  Young's  power;  whereas  Nell  Gibson  was  totally 
independent  of  the  woman. 

"  There,  take  that,  you  old  beldam,  and  be  off!  "  said  the 
Hangman,  savagely,  tossing  her  a  shilling. 

Mother  Franklin,  who  had  thrown  a  look  of  diabolical 
spite  upon  Nell  Gibson  when  she  threatened  to  leave  the 
house,  now  fastened  the  same  malignant  look  upon  the 
Hangman,  muttering  to  herself,  "  What!  only  a  shilling,  a 
beggarly  shilling,  for  fetching  that  wine  and  standing  all  this 
abuse!  "  Then  suddenly  picking  up  the  coin,  she  bustled 
out  of  the  room,  laughing  with  that  hideous  laugh  which 
was  between  a  cackle  and  a  cough. 

The  Hangman,  perceiving  that  he  had  just  drawn  the 
ancient  harridan  into  a  conversation  which  had  thrown 
a  damp  upon  the  spirits  of  those  present,  hastened  to  pour 
out  the  wine  and  pass  around  the  glasses,  the  contents  of 
which  were  speedily  disposed  of.    The  girls  upon  the  sofa 


288  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


were  specially  prompt  in  emptying  their  glasses,  and  they 
looked  particularly  satisfied  when  Mr.  Coffin  refilled  them. 
Then,  after  chatting  on  various  subjects  for  about  a  quarter 
of  an  hour,  the  Hangman  said  to  Nell  Gibson,  I  want  to 
speak  to  you  upon  very  particular  business." 

She  looked  at  him  for  a  moment  with  a  strange  gaze,  in 
which  astonishment,  indignation,  and  disgust  were  all  clearly 
and  plainly  blended;  then,  suddenly  bursting  out  into  a 
loud  laugh,  she  said,  "  No,  Mr.  Coffin,  any  hving  soul  but 
the  public  executioner." 

"  What  does  the  girl  mean?  "  growled  the  Hangman, 
his  countenance  all  of  a  sudden  assuming  a  look  of  diabolical 
ferocity;  but  the  next  moment,  recollecting  that  it  was 
his  policy  to  conciliate  instead  of  angering  Ellen  Gibson,  he 
said,  in  as  mild  a  tone  as  it  was  in  his  nature  to  adopt,  I 
didn't  mean  any  tender  proposal,  Nell ;  but  it's  on  a  matter 
of  business  I  want  to  speak  to  you,  and  so  if  you'll  just  put 
on  your  bonnet  and  shawl  and  step  out  with  me,  we  can 
chat  as  we  walk  up  and  down  the  street;  or  may  be  you 
would  step  around  as  far  as  Bencull's  for  half  an  hour  or  so." 

"  No,  I  don't  want  to  go  out  to-night,"  said  Nell;  ''it's  raw 
and  damp,  and  I've  got  a  cold.  But  we  can  talk  here,"  and 
she  made  a  sign  to  Mother  Young  and  the  four  girls,  who  all 
took  the  hint  accordingly  and  quitted  the  room.  ''  Now, 
then,  what  is  it?  "  inquired  the  young  woman,  still  retaining 
her  indolent  attitude  as  she  lolled  in  the  armchair  near  the 
fire. 

''  And  so  you  wouldn't  have  accepted  me  as  your  lover?  " 
said  the  Hangman,  with  a  jocose  look,  as  he  really  began  to 
feel  somewhat  excited  by  the  provoking  abandonment  of 
the  young  woman's  fine  person  in  that  attitude  of  indolent 
wantonness. 

''  Faugh!  there  is  a  smell  about  you  as  if  you  had  been 
touching  dead  bodies,"  replied  Nell,  who  was  of  a  very 
independent  spirit  and  did  not  mind  saying  what  she  thought. 
Indeed,  vile,  depraved,  remorseless  prostitute  as  she  was, 
and  ready  also  to  sell  herself  to  even  the  most  disgusting  old 
men  so  long  as  she  was  adequately  paid,  she  nevertheless 
recoiled  in  unfeigned  loathing  and  aversion  from  the  idea 
of  such  contact  with  the  public  executioner. 

Well,  at  all  events,  you  are  candid,  Nell,"  said  Daniel 
Coffin,  after  a  brief  pause,  during  which  he  bit  his  lip  almost 


AS  SHE  LOLLED  IN  THE  ARM-CHAIR  NEAR  THE  FIRE" 

Photogravure  from  original  by  Bird 


NELL  GIBSON 


289 


till  the  blood  came,  so  desperate  for  a  moment  was  his 
vexation  at  the  disgust  with  which  the  young  woman  re- 
garded him.  But  come,  it's  no  use  for  you  and  me  to 
wrangle  while  there's  business  to  be  done;  so  I  suppose  we 
are  all  good  friends  again?  " 

"  To  be  sure,"  answered  Nell,  instantaneously  recovering 
her  good  humour;  "  so  long  as  you  don't  talk  to  me  in  a 
particular  way,  we  shall  be  the  best  friends  in  the  world,  as 
we  always  have  been  hitherto;  and  if  there's  anything  to 
be  done  in  which  my  services  can  be  made  handy,  you  know 
very  well  that  you  can  command  me." 

I  am  glad  to  hear  you  speak  in  this  sensible  way,"  said 
Coffin,  laying  aside  all  his  recent  resentment,  "  because  there 
really  is  something  important  on  hand.  You  recollect  that 
night,  down  at  the  dark  crib,  when  you  enticed  a  young  lady 
there  —  " 

To  be  sure;  and  she  had  plenty  of  trinkets  and  a  well- 
filled  purse,"  exclaimed  Nell,  out  of  all  which  we  were 
shamefully  bilked.   But  what  of  her?  " 

^'  Oh,  nothing  about  her;  but  you  remember  that  rascally 
knife-grinding  fellow  that  undertook  to  send  her  into 
kingdom-come?  " 

"  As  if  it  was  possible  to  forget  that  man  whom  we  sent 
to  sleep  at  the  bottom  of  the  black  ditch,"  said  the  young 
woman,  her  tone  and  her  looks  both  suddenly  becoming 
serious. 

Yes,  but  what  will  you  think,"  exclaimed  the  Hang- 
man, "  when  I  tell  you  that  the  fellow  does  not  sleep  at  the 
bottom  of  the  black  ditch  at  all,  but,  on  the  contrary,  must 
have  been  awoke  into  consciousness  and  fife  when  plunged 
into  that  slimy  pool?  And  what  else  will  you  think  when 
I  tell  you  that  not  only  is  that  knife-grinder  safe  and  sound 
in  the  land  of  the  fiving,  but  that  he  is  none  other  than  our 
mortal  enemy  Larry  Sampson?  " 

With  a  surprise  that  rapidly  increased  into  a  speechless 
wonderment  did  Nell  Gibson  hear  the  announcements  thus 
made  by  Daniel  Coffin;  and  even  before  she  could  so  far 
recover  from  this  stupefaction  as  to  be  able  to  give  utterance 
to  a  word,  did  the  Hangman  proceed  to  recite  the  same 
account  as  he  had  already  given  to  Bencull  concerning  his 
visit  to  Larry  Sampson's  house  and  the  discoveries  he  had 
made  through  the  agency  of  the  great  book.  We  need  hardly 


290  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


say  that  Nell  Gibson's  surprise  soon  became  commingled 
with  alarm  and  dismay;  for  there  were  many  episodes  in  her 
career  which  she  had  hitherto  fancied  to  be  utterly  unsus- 
pected by  the  myrmidons  of  justice,  but  which,  from  what 
the  Hangman  now  told  her,  were  indeed  too  well  known  to 
Larry  Sampson.  It  was  true  that,  save  and  except  her  share 
in  the  attempt  to  murder  the  officer  when  disguised  as  a 
knife-grinder,  there  was  no  enormous  crime  which  could 
positively  and  unquestionably  be  brought  home  to  her; 
otherwise,  perhaps,  Larry  would  not  have  allowed  her  to 
remain  at  large  so  long.  But  it  was  quite  clear  that  he  knew 
more  about  her  than  was  pleasant  to  be  thus  known,  and 
that  such  knowledge  of  her  antecedents  would  render  her 
future  career  an  object  of  constant  suspicion  and  surveillance, 
thereby  planting,  as  it  were,  a  thousand  hidden  dangers  in  her 
way. 

When,  therefore,  the  Hangman  proposed  that  she  should 
embark  in  some  enterprise  the  aim  of  which  was  nothing  less 
than  the  murder  of  the  Bow  Street  officer,  she  experienced 
no  compunction  in  giving  a  prompt  and  even  cheerful  assent 
to  the  scheme.  Coffin  then  proceeded  to  develop  his  views, 
in  the  discussion  of  which  the  extraordinary  keenness  and 
astuteness  of  the  young  woman  afforded  no  inconsiderable 
help,  leading  to  many  practical  suggestions  of  importance 
to  the  infernal  project.  Finally,  after  a  lengthened  delibera- 
tion, the  Hangman  and  Nell  Gibson  came  to  a  complete 
understanding  together;  and  the  former,  taking  leave  of 
Mother  Young's  estabhshment,  returned  to  the  dark  crib 
in  Jacob's  Island,  to  report  to  Bencull  the  success  of  his 
mission. 

But  little  did  either  Daniel  Coffin  or  Nell  Gibson  suspect 
that  throughout  their  private  interview  and  important 
colloquy,  old  Mother  FrankUn,  the  toothless  harridan 
belonging  to  Mrs.  Young's  estabhshment,  had  been  listening 
eagerly  and  breathlessly  at  the  keyhole  of  the  parlour  door. 


CHAPTER  XXV 


VENETIA  AND  HER  ADMIRERS 

A  FORTNIGHT  had  elapsed  since  the  occurrences  just 
related,  and  it  was  now  the  middle  of  November,  —  that 
month  of  short  days  and  dark  fogs  in  which  Englishmen  are 
reputed  to  show  a  greater  predilection  for  suicide  than  at 
any  other  season  of  the  year. 

On  the  particular  evening  of  which  we  are  about  to  write, 
the  prince  regent  was  entertaining  at  his  dinner-table  Lord 
and  Lady  Sackville,  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  and  the  Earl 
of  Curzon.  The  reader  will  therefore  perceive  that  it  was 
quite  a  select  little  party;  and  Venetia,  being  the  only  lady 
present,  was  of  course  compelled  to  render  herself  as  agree- 
able as  possible.  We  were  wrong,  however,  to  use  the  word 
compelled,  because  the  beautiful  creature  possessed  that 
admirable  tact,  ladylike  discernment,  and  natural  flow  of 
spirits  which  always  enabled  her  to  be  affable  and  agreeable 
without  an  effort;  and  the  spells  of  fascination  seemed  to 
belong  as  naturally  to  her  manners  as  loveUness  hung  like 
a  charm  upon  her  person,  or  as  the  sweetest  and  richest 
melody  poured  itself  forth  in  the  tones  of  her  voice. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Earl  of  Curzon  had  cher- 
ished a  great  deal  of  animosity  toward  Venetia,  not  only 
for  having  rejected  his  advances,  but  also  for  having  bestowed 
her  hand  upon  Horace  Sackville;  and  the  reader  may  like- 
wise suppose  that  Venetia,  on  her  side,  did  not  immediately 
forget  the  cowardly  threats  which  the  earl  had  held  forth 
when  he  visited  her  at  Acacia  Cottage,  or  the  malignant 
irony  of  his  manner  when  he  congratulated  her  immediately 
after  the  ceremony  at  St.  George's,  Hanover  Square.  But 
when  Horace  and  Venetia  became  not  only  Lord  and  Lady 
Sackville,  but  also  took  up  their  quarters  at  Carlton  House 

291 


292  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


and  were  at  once  admitted  by  the  acclamation  of  the  whole 
fashionable  world  to  be  the  idols  of  the  day,  no  sooner, 
we  say,  were  the  newly  married  couple  thus  elevated  on  so 
lofty  a  pedestal,  than  the  Earl  of  Curzon  was  one  of  the  first 
to  pay  his  court  to  them.  For  he  felt  that  to  be  at  war  with 
Horace  and  Venetia  would  amount  to  total  exclusion  from 
the  banquets,  the  balls,  and  the  soirees  at  Carlton  House; 
and  to  such  exclusion  the  earl's  vanity  would  not  permit 
him  to  submit.  Swallowing,  therefore,  his  resentment  and 
putting  the  best  possible  face  upon  the  matter,  he  had 
hastened  to  make  his  peace  with  the  Sackvilles;  and  they 
had  succeeded  too  well  in  their  ambitious  projects  not  to  be 
able  to  afford  forgiveness  in  this  respect.  Indeed,  it  had 
become  a  part  of  the  conventional  tactics  of  Horace  and 
Venetia  not  to  make  enemies  if  they  could  prevent  it,  and 
to  disarm  all  existing  hostilities,  so  as  to  afford  as  httle 
impulse  as  possible  to  the  ill-natured  things  which  were  cer- 
tain to  be  said  relative  to  individuals  who  had  experienced 
so  sudden  and  remarkable  an  elevation  to  rank,  fortune,  and 
power. 

The  Earl  of  Curzon  was  a  consummate  hypocrite  when  it 
suited  his  purpose  to  act  with  dupUcity;  and  no  sooner  had 
he  made  his  peace  with  the  Sackvilles  when  he  became  most 
fervid  in  his  demonstrations  of  friendship  toward  them. 
He  made  Lord  Sackville  a  present  of  a  splendid  horse;  and 
he  now  and  then  sent  Venetia  beautiful  bouquets  of  flowers, 
the  newly  pubUshed  prints,  and  such  gifts  as  a  gentleman 
may  without  indiscretion  proffer  to  a  lady.  All  this  he  did 
without  any  obtrusiveness  or  any  apparently  interested 
motive;  his  visits  were  not  more  frequent  than  they  ought 
to  be,  and  he  invariably  behaved  with  the  most  courteous 
respect  toward  Lady  Sackville.  The  result  was  that  his  past 
conduct  was  at  length  pretty  well  forgotten;  and  though 
he  was  not  perhaps  regarded  in  the  light  of  a  friend,  he  at 
all  events  was  considered  as  a  very  intimate  acquaintance. 

And  now  a  word  or  two  with  regard  to  Sir  Douglas  Hun- 
tingdon. Upwards  of  a  fortnight  had  elapsed  since  that 
memorable  evening  on  which  the  baronet  and  Venetia  had 
met  in  the  anteroom  leading  to  the  saloon  where  the  aris- 
tocratic young  ladies  had  made  a  pastime  of  dancing  and 
throwing  flowers  around  the  prince.  During  this  fortnight 
Sir  Douglas,  emboldened  by  the  encouragement  which 


VEN-ETIA  AND  HER  ADMIRERS  293 


Venetia  appeared  to  give  him  upon  that  occasion,  had  be- 
come a  more  frequent  visitor  at  the  suite  of  apartments  which 
she  and  Horace  occupied  at  Carlton  House;  and  it  is  quite 
certain  that  he  received  no  discouragement  on  the  part  of 
Venetia.  On  the  contrary,  she  always  managed  to  be  at 
home  "  to  him;  and  when  he  took  his  leave  of  her  on  each 
occasion,  she  generally  contrived  to  give  him  a  hint  as  to  the 
most  convenient  hour  for  him  to  call  the  next  day.  At  the 
outset  of  these  visits,  he  had  ventured  to  press  her  hand  to 
his  lips;  and  the  chiding  he  received  was  so  gentle  that  it 
did  not  prevent  him  from  snatching  a  kiss  from  the  damask 
cheek.  At  the  next  visit,  therefore,  —  as  this  boldness  on 
his  part  had  excited  but  a  moderate  degree  of  resentment,  — 
he  was  venturous  enough  to  cull  the  sweets  of  her  dehcious 
mouth.  This  liberty  experienced  no  very  cruel  chastisement, 
and  therefore  Sir  Douglas  felt  himself  justified  in  cherishing 
the  fervid  hope  that  ere  long  these  Httle  favours  which  he 
obtained  in  detail  would  be  crowned  by  the  complete  sur- 
render of  the  fortress. 

Thus  stood  matters  at  the  time  specified  at  the  opening 
of  this  chapter;  namely,  on  that  evening  in  the  middle  of 
November  when  we  thus  find  the  Sackvilles,  the  Earl  of 
Curzon,  and  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  dining  with  the  prince 
regent. 

It  was  about  nine  o'clock,  the  dessert  had  just  been  placed 
upon  the  table,  and  the  wine  was  beginning  to  circulate 
pretty  freely,  save  with  respect  to  Venetia  herself.  Never- 
theless, a  Uttle  champagne  which  she  had  taken  at  dinner, 
and  the  glass  of  fine  old  port  which  she  was  just  sipping  now 
had  slightly  enhanced  the  bloom  upon  her  cheeks,  deepening 
it  into  a  richer  carnation,  while  her  beautiful  blue  eyes 
appeared  to  swim  in  a  more  softly  sensuous  and  melting 
languor.  Delicious,  too,  was  the  dewy  moisture  of  those  lips 
which  seemed  to  invite  the  tenderest  kisses,  and  to  be  able 
to  give  them  back  again;  and  as  the  lustre  of  the  lamps  shone 
upon  her  rich  auburn  hair,  crowning  her  with  fight  and 
setting  forth  the  grandeur  of  her  forehead  in  all  its  alabaster 
purity,  she  appeared  to  be  one  of  those  beings  who  can  only 
have  an  ideal  existence  in  the  verse  of  the  poet  or  the  page 
of  the  novelist. 

It  was  about  half-past  nine  when  a  footman  entered 
and  whispered  something  in  the  ear  of  the  prince. 


294  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Show  his  lordship  up  immediately,"  exclaimed  his 
Royal  Highness,  aloud.  Then,  so  soon  as  the  servant  had 
retired,  he  observed,  It  is  Leveson,  who  has  just  come 
back  from  Paris;  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  he  will  be  wel- 
come amongst  us." 

Oh,  assuredly!  "  exclaimed  the  Earl  of  Curzon.  "  But 
what  did  he  go  to  Paris  for?  " 

Ah!  that,  I  suppose,  is  his  secret,"  replied  the  prince, 
who,  however,  knew  full  well  wherefore  the  marquis  had 
gone  so  suddenly  abroad  more  than  a  month  previously, 
and  why  he  had  remained  so  long  in  the  French  capital. 

The  Marquis  of  Leveson  now  made  his  appearance;  and 
when  the  usual  greetings  and  complimentary  phrases  were 
exchanged,  he  took  a  seat  on  the  left  hand  of  the  prince,  — 
Venetia  being  on  the  right  of  his  Royal  Highness. 
The  conversation  was  continued  upon  general  subjects  for 
some  time;  but  presently  when  Lord  Sackville,  the  Earl 
of  Curzon,  and  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  had  become  involved 
in  a  warm  though  friendly  discussion  upon  some  moot- 
point,  to  which  Venetia  was  Ustening  with  great  interest,  the 
prince  and  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  seized  the  opportunity 
to  exchange  a  few  hurried  and  whispered  observations. 

What  news?  "  inquired  the  prince. 

Did  you  not  receive  letters  from  me  yesterday,  stating 
that  I  should  be  home  to-day?  "  asked  Leveson. 

Yes,"  replied  the  prince.  And  nothing,  I  suppose, 
is  changed  since  the  date  at  which  you  wrote  those  letters?  " 

Nothing,"  returned  the  marquis.  "  As  you  are  aware, 
Julia  Owen  has  gone  on  to  rejoin  her  sisters  in  Italy  —  " 

Yes,  that  I  know  well  enough,"  interrupted  the  prince; 
and  she  must  have  reached  them  by  this  time.   Why,  it  is 
a  fortnight  since  you  despatched  her  from  Paris,  on  the 
failure  of  that  precious  affair  between  her  and  the  falsely 
styled  Jocelyn  Loftus." 

At  the  mention  of  this  name,  which  caught  Venetia's 
ear,  she  gave  a  start,  though  it  was  unperceived  by  any  one 
present.  Then,  while  apparently  continuing  to  Usten  with 
interest  to  the  discussion  between  her  husband,  the  earl, 
and  the  baronet,  she  in  reality  lent  an  earnest  and  attentive 
ear  to  the  whispered  and  confidential  discourse  that  was 
going  on  between  the  prince  regent  and  the  Earl  of  Leveson. 
The  latter  proceeded  to  make  certain  observations  relative 


VENETIA  AND  HER  ADMIRERS  295 


to  Jocelyn  Loftus,  which  revealed  to  the  ears  of  Venetia  a 
remarkable  secret  in  connection  with  that  young  gentleman, 
showing  to  her  how  it  was  that  the  prince  had  ere  now  spoken 
of  him  as  the  falsely  styled  Jocelyn  Loftus. 

But  why  is  Venetia  interested  in  aught  that  concerns 
Jocelyn  Loftus?  Does  she  know  him?  Has  she  ever  seen 
him?  In  a  word,  wherefore  has  her  heart  begun  to  flutter 
like  a  frightened  bird  in  its  cage,  and  why  does  it  need  all  her 
resolution,  all  her  firmness,  all  her  presence  of  mind  to  pre- 
vent the  betrayal  of  those  emotions  which  the  mention  of 
this  name  has  suddenly  excited  within  her  bosom? 

We  cannot  answer  these  questions  at  present;  and  there- 
fore must  we  pursue,  without  delay,  the  thread  of  our  nar- 
rative. 

And  is  he  still  in  the  prefecture?  "  inquired  the  prince, 
continuing  the  whispered  discourse  with  Leveson,  while 
Venetia  was  straining  every  sense  to  catch  each  word  that 
passed  between  them. 

"  Yes,"  returned  the  marquis.  "  What  else  could  possibly 
be  done  with  him?  He  is  proof  against  all  temptation;  his 
virtue  would  put  the  old  Stoic  philosophers  to  shame;  and 
if  he  were  set  at  large  he  would  blow  to  the  winds  all  that 
fine  scheme  which,  if  successful,  will  relieve  you  from  the 
trammels  of  your  accursed  marriage." 

"  But  will  the  French  government  consent  to  retain  him 
a  prisoner  much  longer?  "  asked  the  prince.  Seeing  that 
the  pretext  is  so  shallow,  I  fear  lest  it  should  be  under  the 
necessity  of  setting  him  at  Hberty." 

"  Not  at  all,"  returned  the  marquis.  "  King  Louis 
acknowledges  his  obligation  to  succour  your  Royal  Highness 
to  the  utmost  of  his  power,  and  he  pledged  himself  to  me 
to  do  so." 

"  Then  the  imprisonment  of  that  mad-brained,  obstinate 
young  man  is  likely  to  be  prolonged  indeed?  "  said  the  prince. 

But  what  have  you  done  with  that  beautiful  Louisa 
Stanley  of  whom  you  wrote  to  me  in  such  glaring  colours?  " 

"  Would  you  believe  it,  sir,  I  have  brought  her  back 
from  Paris  and  managed  to  entice  her  to  Albemarle  Street," 
said  the  marquis,  with  a  leer  of  most  sensual  satisfaction. 

Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  have  already  won  that 
prize?  "  asked  the  prince. 

No,  no,  not  yet.    I  have  been  playing  the  paternal, 


296  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


and  she  looks  up  to  me  quite  as  a  father.  She  has  got  a 
sister  somewhere  in  London;  but  she  has  evidently  mistaken 
the  address  of  this  sister's  residence.  However,  I  will  tell 
you  all  about  this  another  time ;  suffice  it  to  say  that  Louisa 
is  a  charming  creature,  and  I  have  obtained  such  influence 
over  —  " 

The  whispered  dialogue  between  the  prince  and  the 
marquis,  and  the  animated  discussion  on  the  part  of  Sack- 
ville,  Curzon,  and  Huntingdon,  were  both  alike  interrupted 
at  this  particular  moment  by  the  circumstance  of  Venetia 
suddenly  upsetting  her  wine-glass  by  a  too  abrupt  move- 
ment which  she  made;  and  as  the  wine  was  spilt  upon  the 
rich  satin  dress  that  she  wore,  she  started  from  her  seat, 
evidently  much  confused  and  chagrined  at  an  accident  which 
had  drawn  all  eyes  upon  her.  Then  faltering  forth  a  few 
words  of  apology,  she  hurried  from  the  room. 

Hastening  to  her  own  chamber,  she  threw  herself  upon  the 
sofa  and  fell  into  a  profound  reverie.  Painful  it  no  doubt 
was,  for  her  troubled  spirit  seemed  to  look  through  the  eyes 
that  were  bent  down  fixedly,  beaming  not  with  a  voluptuous 
languor  now.  Painful,  too,  that  reverie  was,  because  the 
colour  had  fled  from  her  cheeks  and  an  unreheved  pallor 
sat  upon  her  countenance.  Presently  she  pressed  her  hand 
forcibly  to  her  heart,  as  if  to  still  its  throbbings;  and  that 
superb  bosom  which  was  wont  to  swell  so  warmly  and  glow- 
ingly with  amorous  emotions  now  appeared  to  palpitate 
beneath  the  empire  of  other  and  far  different  thoughts. 

But  suddenly  starting  from  the  sofa,  she  assumed  a  look 
of  forced  composure,  —  that  look  which  an  energetic  woman 
puts  on  when,  in  the  presence  of  dangers,  difficulties,  or 
annoyances  suddenly  starting  up  before  her,  she  resolves 
to  adopt  a  decisive  course.  Ringing  the  bell  to  summon  her 
faithful  attendant  Jessica,  Venetia  hastened  to  put  off  the 
soiled  dress  and  array  herself  in  another  robe.  Then,  ere 
she  quitted  the  chamber,  she  said  to  Jessica,  You  must 
hasten  up  to  Stratton  Street  at  once,  and  tell  Miss  Bathurst 
that  it  is  probable  inquiries  may  be  made  for  a  certain  person 
and  that  she  must  be  upon  her  guard  accordingly.  Whisper 
this  much  in  Miss  Bathurst's  ear;  or  if  Miss  Bathurst  should 
not  happen  to  be  at  home,  tell  it  to  Mrs.  Arbuthnot,  and  the 
meaning  of  the  message  will  be  thoroughly  understood." 

Having  given  these  instructions^  Lady  Sackville  descended 


VENETIA  AND  HER  ADMIRERS  297 


to  the  saloon  belonging  to  the  suite  of  apartments  which  she 
and  her  husband  occupied  at  Carlton  House;  and  after  re- 
maining there  for  a  short  time,  until  she  had  entirely  regained 
an  outward  appearance  of  calmness  as  well  as  some  of  the 
lost  carnation  hues  upon  her  cheeks,  she  rang  the  bell  and 
ordered  her  serious-looking  valet,  who  answered  the  sum- 
mons, to  go  and  inform  his  Royal  Highness  and  his  guests 
that  she  should  be  happy  to  see  them  to  take  coffee  with 
her. 

Half  an  hour  afterward,  the  prince,  the  marquis,  the  earl, 
and  the  baronet,  accompanied,  of  course,  by  Lord  Sackville 
himself,  repaired  to  the  saloon  where  Venetia  was  thus 
awaiting  their  presence;  and  as  the  company  partook  of 
the  fragrant  coffee  and  the  choice  Uqueurs  which  followed 
she  conversed  as  gaily  and  as  cheerfully  as  if  she  had  ex- 
perienced no  sudden  paroxysm  of  low  spirits  during  the 
entire  evening. 

Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  had  seated  himself  next  to  her 
at  the  tea-table;  and  the  influence  of  the  wine  he  had  drunk, 
minghng  with  that  of  her  transcendent  charms  and  the 
melody  of  her  fluid  voice,  filled  him  with  a  species  of  delirious 
intoxication  which  rendered  all  control  of  his  feehngs  a 
matter  of  utter  impossibility.  Availing  himself,  therefore, 
of  a  moment  when  no  one  else  observed  him,  and  hurried 
along  by  an  irresistible  current  of  ecstatic  emotions,  he 
whispered,  "  By  Heaven!  Venetia,  you  are  adorable  to- 
night! O  for  one  hour  of  your  love,  and  I  would  cheerfully 
resign  all  the  remainder  of  my  existence  to  enjoy  it." 

"  Are  you  serious,  and  would  you  do  me  a  great  —  a  very 
great  service?  "  she  inquired,  in  a  low,  deep  whisper,  ac- 
companying her  words  by  a  look  which  seemed  to  blend  a 
profound  earnestness  of  purpose  with  a  tender  intimation 
that  she  was  willing  to  pay  the  highest  price  which  woman 
can  give  for  the  service  to  which  she  had  just  alluded. 

"  Tell  me  what  I  can  do  for  you,  adorable  being,"  mur- 
mured the  enraptured  baronet,  and  I  will  peril  my  life  in 
your  service." 

Venetia  threw  a  hurried  glance  around;  and  perceiving 
that  this  rapid  and  whispered  colloquy  at  the  tea-table  was 
still  unobserved,  she  darted  a  sudden  look  of  vivid  intelligence 
upon  the  baronet,  saying,  in  an  equally  hurried  but  low- 
breathed  tone  at  the  same  time,    I  will  write  presently  upon 


298  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


a  slip  of  paper  that  which  I  should  blush  to  say  in  your 
presence." 

Having  thus  given  a  sort  of  promise  to  which  the  baronet 
instantaneously  attached  the  tenderest  and  most  delicious 
interpretation,  Venetia  rose  from  her  seat;  and  crossing 
the  room,  she  threw  herself  upon  a  sofa  at  the  farther  end, 
as  if  to  get  as  far  as  possible  from  the  heat  of  the  very  large 
fire  that  was  blazing  in  the  grate. 

The  Earl  of  Curzon  now  approached  her,  and  negligently 
taking  a  seat  by  her  side,  he  began  to  converse  upon  a  variety 
of  those  topics  which  make  up  the  sum  of  fashionable  dis- 
course. But  Venetia  was  preoccupied  with  other  and  more 
important  matters,  so  that  at  times  she  fell  into  a  pensive 
mood,  from  which  she  would  suddenly  start  and  then  gaze  upon 
the  earl  with  a  look  of  vacant  inquiry,  as  if  in  wonder  at  what 
he  had  been  saying.  In  fact,  there  was  altogether  a  pecuH- 
arity  in  her  manner  which  she  could  not  control,  and  which 
she  even  rendered  more  strange  by  attempting  to  subdue  it, 
or  to  repair  the  awkwardness  of  its  effects. 

Now  the  Earl  of  Curzon  had  been  drinking  freely;  and 
the  wine  had  produced  upon  him  a  certain  excitement 
which  the  magic  of  Venetians  charms  speedily  enhanced  to 
an  almost  frenzied  degree.  Thus,  losing  his  head,  as  it  were, 
in  the  fumes  of  the  generous  grape  and  in  the  intoxicating 
influences  of  his  own  desires,  he  mistook  that  peculiarity 
of  Venetians  manner  for  the  embarrassment  and  confusion 
attendant  upon  a  favourable  feeling  experienced  toward 
himself.  His  vanity  assisted  this  belief;  and  thus  blindly 
abandoning  himself  to  it,  he  ventured  to  touch  Venetia's 
hand  with  a  significant  tenderness.  She  perceived  the  cir- 
cumstance and  threw  upon  him  a  glance  which  was  about 
to  shoot  forth  the  fires  of  indignation,  when  all  in  a  moment 
the  truth  flashed  to  her  mind.  She  remembered  that  her 
manner  had  been  strange  and  preoccupied,  and  this  recollec- 
tion furnished  her  with  the  key  to  the  mystery  of  the  earl's 
conduct.  Yes,  it  was  quite  clear;  he  fancied  she  was  in  love 
with  him,  and  that  all  the  last  half-hour's  absence  of  mind 
and  preoccupation  were  the  proofs  of  this  affection  on  her 
part. 

Thus  was  it  that  the  sudden  flashing  of  the  truth  to  her 
comprehension  checked  the  indignation  which  her  looks  were 
about  to  pour  forth  upon  the  earl;  and  at  the  same  moment 


VENETIA  AND  HER  ADMIRERS  299 


another  thought  sprang  up  in  her  mind.  But  this  second 
thought  was  of  importance  to  herself,  suggestive  as  it  was 
of  a  means  by  which  she  could  render  the  earl  serviceable 
in  certain  matters  upon  which  she  had  this  night  resolved. 

Suffering,  therefore,  her  hand  to  remain  in  contact  with 
his  own,  she  bent  upon  him  a  look  into  which  she  threw  as 
much  tenderness  and  encouragement  as  she  dared  without 
incurring  the  risk  of  being  deemed  too  ready  to  accept  his 
overtures  and  too  wilhng  to  fling  herself  into  his  arms. 

Have  you  forgiven  me  for  the  insolence  of  my  conduct 
on  the  first  day  of  our  acquaintance?  he  inquired,  in  a  low 
voice. 

"  Most  assuredly,'^  she  softly  answered.  Has  not  my 
conduct  proved  this  much?  " 

"  Ah  I  if  I  dared  to  hope,"  murmured  the  earl,  with  a 
sigh. 

"  If  I  were  to  bid  you  hope,"  whispered  Venetia,  after  a 
few  instants^  pause,  and  speaking  as  if  in  obedience  to  the 
sudden  impulse  of  a  feeUng  stronger  than  herself,  "  would 
you  be  ready  to  perform  any  service  which  I  might  demand?  " 

"  Did  you  order  me  to  kill  myself  at  your  feet  as  a  proof  of 
my  devotion,"  responded  the  earl,  transported  with  raptures 
and  incredulous  even  to  the  amount  of  that  happiness  which 
the  present  discourse  inspired,  "  I  would  do  it  unhesitatingly 
—  oh,  unhesitatingly  this  moment!  " 

And  you  swear  by  your  God,  and  by  your  honour  as  a 
man,"  whispered  Venetia,  earnestly  and  even  solemnly, 

that  you  will  keep  secret  whatever  may  pass  between  us?  " 

"  I  will,  I  will,"  answered  the  earl.  I  would  sooner  die 
than  deceive  you." 

Venetia  appeared  satisfied  with  this  reply;  for  her  looks 
brightened  up,  and  she  threw  upon  the  nobleman  a  glance 
of  mingled  gratitude  and  tenderness.  Then,  after  reflecting 
deeply  for  a  few  moments,  she  said,  I  cannot  tell  you  more 
now,  but  presently  I  will  slip  a  note  into  your  hand." 

Having  given  the  earl  this  assurance,  which  seemed  to 
promise  joys  and  favours  that  should  crown  him  with  a 
triumph  and  a  bliss  which  even  an  hour  before  appeared  to 
be  not  merely  incalculably  remote  but  scarcely  probable  or 
possible  at  all,  having  thus  breathed  those  honeyed  words  of 
hope,  we  say,  Venetia  rose  from  the  sofa  and  advanced  to- 
ward the  prince  and  the  others  who  were  standing  in  a  group 


300  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


before  the  fire  and  conversing  upon  some  animated  topic  of 
politics. 

But  as  Venetia  thus  drew  near,  that  topic,  usually  con- 
sidered to  be  so  unwelcome  to  ladies,  was  instantly  aban- 
doned; and  the  prince,  fixing  his  eyes  upon  his  beautiful 
mistress,  said,  "  Is  your  ladyship  inclined  to  favour  us  with 
music,  or  are  we  to  betake  ourselves  to  cards?  " 

I  am  somewhat  indisposed  this  evening,  sir,"  answered 
Venetia,  and  cannot  sing.  Indeed,  it  is  my  intention  to 
retire  early;  but  if  you  will  agree  to  amuse  yourselves  with 
cards,  I  am  sure  that  Horace  will  himself  make  you  a  bowl 
of  curagoa  punch  according  to  that  receipt  which  you  have 
all  on  former  occasions  pronounced  to  be  so  fine.  I  presume 
your  Royal  Highness  does  not  wish  us  to  stand  on  cere- 
mony? "  added  Venetia,  with  one  of  her  most  winning  and 
fascinating  smiles;  "  and  no  one  beyond  these  walls  need 
know  that  the  lord  steward  of  the  regent's  household  con- 
descends to  manufacture  punch." 

There  was  a  great  deal  of  laughing  and  joking  at  this 
proposition  so  good-naturedly  and  humourously  made, 
and  we  need  hardly  say  that  it  was  at  once  accepted.  The 
prince,  the  marquis,  the  earl,  and  the  baronet  sat  down  to 
whist,  and  Lord  Sackville  retired  into  his  dining-room  to 
make  the  punch.  Thither  he  was  presently  followed  by 
Venetia,  and  as  she  assured  herself  that  he  had  every  ingre- 
dient he  required,  she  observed,  in  a  low  tone  and  with 
a  sudden  pouting  of  her  beautiful  lips,  ^'  After  all,  I  am 
sorry  that  I  proposed  this  very  inebriating  mixture." 

"  And  wherefore?  "  asked  her  husband,  astonished  at  the 
remark. 

"  Because,"  she  replied,  with  a  downcast  look  and  a  glow 
upon  her  cheeks,  "  as  I  just  quitted  the  saloon,  the  prince 
made  a  sign  which  I  could  not  but  too  well  understand  —  " 

"  Ah!  I  know  what  you  mean,"  observed  Sackville,  biting 
his  lip.   "  The  prince  means  to  pass  the  night  with  you." 

But  the  blush  almost  immediately  passed  away  from 
Venetians  countenance,  and  the  pang  which  shot  through  her 
husband's  heart  was  only  momentary;  for  the  dehcacy  of 
feehng  which  had  conjured  up  the  former  and  produced  the 
latter  was  almost  completely  extinguished  within  their 
breasts  so  far  as  their  connection  as  man  and  wife  was 
concerned. 


VENETIA  AND  HER  ADMIRERS  301 


Alas!  alas!  that  such  dreadful  depravity  should  have 
prevailed  where  there  was  so  much  beauty,  such  inteUigence 
and  such  naturally  godUke  quahties  on  either  side! 

Venetia  now  left  her  husband  to  continue  the  manufacture 
of  the  punch,  while  she  hastened  up  to  her  own  boudoir; 
and  sitting  down  to  her  writing-desk,  she  penned  the  follow- 
ing note,  which  she  intended  for  the  Earl  of  Curzon: 

"  I  promised  that  I  would  slip  a  few  lines  into  your  hand, 
and  I  keep  my  word.  The  reason  why  I  thus  commit  myself 
to  paper  is  to  furnish  you  with  a  proof  of  my  sincerity,  so  that 
in  return  you  may  hesitate  not  to  render  me  the  great  and 
important  service  which  I  require  at  your  hands.  Come 
to  me  to-morrow  morning  at  eleven  o'clock.  I  will  receive 
you  in  my  boudoir,  where  we  may  converse  for  half  an  hour 
without  restraint. 

"  Venetia." 

Having  penned  this  note  in  her  beautiful  fluent  hand,  Lady 
Sackville  took  another  piece  of  paper  and  wrote  thereon 
the  following  words,  intended  for  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon: 

"  I  promised  that  I  would  shp  a  note  into  your  hand  this 
evening,  and  I  keep  my  word.  Yes,  I  love  thee;  and  I  accept 
thy  love  in  return.  The  reason  why  I  write  these  lines  is 
because  I  can  make  upon  paper  that  appointment  which 
I  should  never  have  dared  to  breathe  with  my  lips.  The 
punch  will  be  strong;  you  can  affect  to  be  overcome  by  it, 
and  Sackville  will  offer  you  a  chamber  for  the  night  in  our 
suite  of  apartments.  I  shall  be  alone  in  my  boudoir,  the 
door  of  which  faces  the  marble  statue  of  Diana  in  the  gallery. 

Venetia." 

Having  concluded  this  second  billet,  Venetia  proceeded  to 
fold  each  up  into  the  smallest  possible  compass;  and  thrust- 
ing one  into  the  right  bosom  of  her  dress  and  the  other  into 
the  left,  she  returned  to  the  saloon.  There  she  found  the 
card-playing  going  on  and  the  punch  already  served  around. 
At  that  moment,  too,  the  Earl  of  Curzon  was  rising  from 
the  card-tables  to  make  room  for  Horace,  who  accordingly 
sat  down  to  take  a  hand  in  the  game;  and  Venetia  now 
therefore  found  a  speedy  opportunity  of  thrusting  one  of 


302  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


the  notes  into  the  hand  of  the  Earl  of  Curzon.  This  ma- 
noeuvre was  of  course  unperceived  by  everybody  else;  and 
the  earl,  after  flinging  a  look  expressive  of  fervid  gratitude 
upon  her  ladyship,  quitted  the  room. 

In  a  few  minutes  he  returned;  and  she  read  in  his  looks 
the  ineffable  delight  which  filled  his  soul.  She  accordingly 
understood  full  well  that  he  had  sought  an  opportunity  to 
read  her  billet,  and  that  he  could  know  not  a  greater  happi- 
ness than  that  of  complying  with  its  contents. 

In  a  short  time  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  rose  from  the 
table,  declaring  that  he  was  in  no  humour  to  play  at 
cards  to-night:  "  and  the  prince  regent  accordingly  desired 
the  Earl  of  Curzon  to  join  the  whist  party  again.  To  this 
request,  which  was  a  command  when  coming  from  royalty, 
the  nobleman  immediately  jdelded;  and  Sir  Douglas  went 
and  placed  himself  by  the  side  of  Venetia,  who  had  taken 
a  chair  at  some  little  distance. 

Watching  her  opportunity,  when  the  card-players  were 
most  intent  on  their  game,  Lady  Sackville  slipped  the  other 
note  into  the  baronet's  hand;  and  soon  afterward,  it  being 
now  past  midnight,  she  retired  to  her  own  chamber. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 


THE  BOUDOIR 

On  thus  retiring  to  her  elegant  boudoir,  Venetia  neither 
rang  immediately  for  her  maid  to  help  her  to  lay  aside  her 
apparel,  nor  did  she  commence  her  night  toilet  alone;  but 
flinging  herself  on  the  sofa  near  the  fire,  she  gave  way  to  her 
reflections. 

A  deep  melancholy  crept  over  her,  and  tears  even  stole 
forth  upon  her  long  dark  lashes;  then,  as  if  it  were  a  positive 
luxury  to  escape  from  the  hollowness,  the  falsity,  and  the 
demoralization  of  a  court  Hfe  even  for  a  few  minutes,  and 
to  indulge  in  the  unrestrained  thought  which  the  sohtude  of 
her  own  chamber  permitted,  she  murmured,  audibly,  Yes, 
let  me  weep,  let  me  weep!  " 

And  Venetia  wept,  not  violently,  Uke  the  rains  pouring 
forth  from  an  angry  heaven  to  beat  down  the  fairest  flowers 
and  crush  the  sweetest  buds  of  promise,  but  softly  and 
gently,  like  the  April  showers  descending  with  a  genial 
influence  to  give  freshness  to  nature's  expanding  verdure 
in  garden,  grove,  and  field.  Thus  did  Venetia's  tears  fer- 
tilize, as  it  were,  her  memory  and  her  heart  for  the  time  being; 
and  all  the  tenderest  recollections  that  the  former  cherished, 
and  all  the  sweetest  feelings  of  woman's  nature  which  the 
latter  harboured,  were  revived  into  freshness  and  wooed 
into  bloom  by  the  gentle  shower  that  fell  from  the  deep  blue 
heaven  of  her  eyes. 

Presently  she  rose  from  the  sofa,  passed  behind  a  low 
screen  which  partitioned  off  one  corner  of  the  elegantly 
furnished  boudoir,  and  opened  a  splendid  bureau  or  cabinet 
made  of  ebony  inlaid  with  mother-of-pearl.  Thence  she 
took  forth  her  jewel-box;  but  her  eyes  shone  not  with 
pleasure  at  the  view  of  the  flashing  gems  which  the  box 

303 


304  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


contained.  No;  for  these  she  recked  not  now,  and  the 
object  of  her  search  was  nothing  more  than  a  small  packet 
of  letters  tied  around  with  a  simple  white  ribbon.  Returning 
to  her  seat  upon  the  sofa,  Venetia  began  to  examine  these 
letters,  which  were  all  written  in  the  same  hand,  and  this 
hand  was  a  beautiful  female  one,  closely  resembling  her 
own  fluid  and  elegant  writing. 

But  as  she  ran  her  eyes  over  certain  passages  in  that 
correspondence,  the  tears  rained  down  her  cheeks;  and  at 
length  she  wept  so  copiously  that  through  the  half-blinding 
floods  she  beheld  the  paper  and  the  writing  on  it  as  through 
a  mist.  But  this  outpouring  of  her  heart's  long  pent-up 
feelings  proved  an  immense  relief,  an  incalculable  solace; 
and  wiping  from  her  eyes  the  last  pearl-drops  which  hung 
upon  the  long,  dark,  softly  curved  lashes,  she  tied  up  the 
packet  of  letters  with  the  white  ribbon  and  restored  them 
to  the  jewel-box.  Then,  having  consigned  the  box  itself  to 
the  secure  keeping  of  the  ebony  cabinet,  she  rang  the  bell 
for  Jessica. 

The  summons  was  not  answered  with  the  abigail's  wonted 
promptitude,  and  after  allowing  three  or  four  minutes' 
license,  Venetia  rang  again.  This  time  the  summons  was 
speedily  responded  to;  and  Jessica  came  hurrying  into  the 
boudoir,  with  an  apology  and  an  explanation  upon  her  lips 
for  the  previous  neglect  and  delay. 

"  I  beg  your  ladyship's  pardon  most  sincerely,'*  she  said; 
"  but  I  was  busily  engaged  at  the  moment  your  ladyship's  bell 
rang  the  first  time,  in  seeing  that  the  spare  bedroom  was  put 
into  order  —  " 

The  spare  bedroom! "  ejaculated  Venetia,  affecting 
surprise. 

"  Yes,  my  lady,"  returned  Jessica;  it  appears  that  one 
of  the  guests  in  the  saloon  has  taken  the  least  drop  too  much." 

''Ah!  indeed,"  said  Venetia.  And  who  is  it  that  has 
thus  forgotten  himself?  " 

I  don't  know  which  of  the  guests  it  is,  my  lady,"  replied 
Jessica;  "  indeed,  I  didn't  hear  his  name  mentioned  at  all. 
My  lord,"  she  continued,  alluding  to  Horace,  "  came  out  and 
gave  the  hurried  order  that  the  spare  bedroom  was  to  be 
got  ready  immediately,  and  that  was  the  reason  I  did  not 
fly  to  answer  your  ladyship's  bell  when  it  rang  the  first  time." 

"  I  am  not  angry,  Jessica,"  said  Venetia,  smiUng.  And 


THE  BOUDOIR 


305 


while  I  think  of  it,  I  may  as  well  observe  that  as  I  do  not 
feel  very  well  to-night,  I  shall  perhaps  take  breakfast  in  bed 
in  the  morning.  At  all  events,  you  need  not  come  to  me  until 
I  ring." 

"  Very  good,  my  lady,"  observed  Jessica,  as  she  combed 
out  Venetians  magnificent  auburn  hair,  which  was  glossy  and 
smooth  as  velvet,  and  shining  as  dark  gold,  —  so  luxuriant 
that  it  could  be  spread  like  a  veil  all  over  her  shoulders  and 
her  bosom,  and  so  long  that  it  reached  far  below  her  waist. 

And  you  will  tell  the  footman  in  the  morning,"  continued 
Venetia,  "  in  case  I  should  forget  to  mention  it  again,  that 
any  one  who  calls  at  eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  punctually 
is  to  be  shown  straight  up  hither,  as  I  expect  some  one  on 
business  of  importance." 

"  Your  ladyship's  commands  shall  be  attended  to,"  said 
Jessica. 

The  night  toilet  progressed;  the  masses  of  silken,  auburn 
hair  were  gathered  loosely  up  with  a  sort  of  graceful  negli- 
gence beneath  an  elegant  lace  cap,  and  having  laid  aside  her 
apparel,  Venetia  dismissed  her  attendant  for  the  night. 
Putting  on  a  muslin  wrapper,  beautifully  worked,  and 
edged  with  the  costliest  lace,  she  threw  herself  upon  the 
sofa;  and  as  she  lay  half-reclining  there,  the  dark  purple 
velvet  of  that  sofa  formed  a  background  to  throw  forth  her 
superb  form  in  all  its  grandest  and  most  voluptuous  effects. 

The  gorgeous  contours  of  the  bust,  left  half-exposed  in 
their  dazzhng  whiteness  by  the  loose  wrapper,  the  fine  mould- 
ing of  the  form  and  the  admirable  proportions  of  the  limbs, 
displayed  by  the  folds  of  the  very  muslin  which  enveloped 
them,  constituted  a  picture  so  exquisitely  beautiful  and 
yet  so  sensuously  luxurious  that  a  saint  must  have  wor- 
shipped Venetia  as  the  idol  of  devotion,  and  must  have  sunk 
into  her  arms  even  though  it  were  tasting  the  forbidden 
fruit  that  would  entail  the  loss  of  Paradise. 

But  what  were  Venetia' s  thoughts  as  she  thus  lay  half- 
reclining  upon  that  sofa,  in  all  the  ^^oluptuous  abandonment 
of  a  rich  glowing  form  draped  only  with  the  night-gear  and 
the  loose  muslin  wrapper,  and  in  an  atmosphere  that  was 
warm  and  perfumed?  For  the  fire  of  red-hot  coals  was  heaped 
high  up  in  the  grate;  and  three  or  four  porcelain  vases 
exhaled  a  delicious  fragrance.  If  anything  were  calculated 
to  encourage  sensations  of  softly  longing  wantonness,  the 


306  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


very  attitude,  the  dress,  the  warmth,  the  perfume,  the  luxu- 
rious aspect  of  the  boudoir,  the  silence  of  the  hour,  the  mellow 
light  shed  by  a  lamp  placed  upon  the  table,  —  all  these 
circumstances  and  influences  were  of  themselves  sufficient 
to  produce  that  effect  upon  a  woman  of  glowing  tempera- 
ment and  who  had  abjured  all  notions  of  prudery.  But 
when  to  these  provocative  and  exciting  causes  was  super- 
added the  fact  that  she  had  given  an  appointment  to  an 
admirer,  and  that  she  was  now  every  moment  expecting  this 
admirer's  presence,  it  may  well  be  supposed  that  Venetia's 
heart  was  already  fluttering  with  desire,  and  that  her  cheeks 
were  flushing,  her  eyes  looking  languid,  and  her  bosom 
palpitating  in  the  expectation  of  that  deeper  delirium  and 
more  frenetic  whirl  of  pleasure  into  which  the  enjoyments 
of  love  would  shortly  plunge  her. 

But  such  would  not  have  been  her  sensations  were  she 
expecting  the  prince  regent  instead  of  Sir  Douglas  Hunting- 
don. And  here  let  us  observe  that  his  Royal  Highness  had 
in  reality  given  her  no  intimation,  ere  now  in  the  saloon, 
that  he  purposed  to  inflict  his  presence  upon  her  this  night; 
she  had  merely  made  the  statement  to  her  husband  in  order 
to  ensure  the  uninterrupted  privacy  of  her  boudoir  for  herself 
and  the  baronet.  But  now  the  reader  will  possibly  ask 
whether  Venetia  experienced  any  genuine  or  sincere 
affection  for  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon.  No,  not  at  all. 
It  was  but  a  passing  whim  and  a  fantasy  of  the  moment 
that  had  in  the  first  instance  led  her  to  give  him  the  slightest 
encouragement  on  that  night  when  they  met  in  the  anteroom 
and  became  companion  spectators  of  the  scene  that  was 
passing  the  other  side  of  the  glass  door  on  that  occasion. 
Since  then  she  had  gone  on  encouraging  him  in  the  fre- 
quency of  his  visits,  she  had  allowed  him  to  become  more  and 
more  familiar  with  her,  she  had  also  permitted  him  to  bestow 
those  little  caresses  upon  her  which  she  received  without 
chiding,  —  all  this  she  had  done,  we  say,  simply  because, 
the  barrier  of  virtue  once  broken  down,  she  neither  had  the 
courage,  the  inclination,  nor  the  self-respect  sufficient  to 
check  the  development  of  that  natural  wantonness  which 
was  hurrying  her  on  into  actual  profligacy.  Nor  was  it 
indeed  hkely  that  a  young  and  lovely  woman  of  fervid 
temperament,  who  had  abandoned  herself  to  the  prince, 
whom  she  loathed,  in  order  that  she  might  further  her 


THE  BOUDOIR 


307 


ambitious  projects,  would  now  hesitate  to  gratify  a  longing, 
however  transient  it  might  be,  in  which  a  really  handsome 
and  agreeable  man  like  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  was  con- 
cerned. Moreover,  Venetia  required  his  services  in  a  very 
important  and  delicate  matter,  and  she  therefore  was  wiUing 
to  bestow  upon  him  the  tenderest  and  most  precious  mark 
of  favour  which  a  woman  can  possibly  concede. 

The  reader  has  already  seen  that  Venetia  married  Horace 
Sackville  rather  as  a  matter  of  convenience  than  through  any 
other  cause;  and  therefore  the  impression  which  his  hand- 
some person,  his  fascinating  manners,  his  fine  intellect,  and 
his  ardent  but  short-lived  devotion  had  made  upon  her  during 
the  first  two  or  three  weeks  of  their  engagement  and  mar- 
riage was  rather  an  influence  acting  upon  the  senses  than 
on  the  sentiment.  It  was  the  first  stirring  up  and  develop- 
ment of  those  naturally  strong  animal  passions  which  she 
possessed;  and  therefore,  as  no  deeper  or  more  tender 
or  enduring  tie  bound  her  to  her  husband,  it  cannot  be 
astonishing  that  she  should  so  soon  have  turned  her  wanton 
regards  elsewhere.  Moreover,  even  if  she  had  really  and 
truly  loved  Horace  at  all,  this  affection  must  naturally  have 
received  a  ruinous  shock  by  the  fact  that  within  three  weeks 
after  her  marriage,  he,  the  husband  of  this  woman  of  tran- 
scendent beauty,  had  permitted  her  to  resign  herself  coldly, 
systematically,  and  deliberately  into  the  arms  of  the  prince. 
True,  all  this  was  arranged,  foreknown,  and  agreed  upon, 
even  before  their  marriage;  true,  it  was  a  joint-stock  patch- 
work of  ambitions,  with  deeper  ramifications,  however, 
than  the  reader  has  yet  learned,  that  had  to  be  based  upon 
this  marriage;  true  also,  that  after  Venetians  fall  there  were 
occasional  intervals  of  compunction,  remorse,  weepings,  and 
consolings,  between  the  guilty  wife  and  her  pander-husband; 
true,  likewise,  that  their  first  plungings  into  depravity  and 
selfishness  were  characterized  by  occasional  bursts  of  maudlin 
sentiment  as  well  perhaps  as  of  that  genuine  feeling,  which 
was  not  altogether  crushed  beneath  the  weight  of  conscious 
infamy.  Yes,  true  enough  were  all  these  circumstances  and 
phases  in  the  history  of  Horace  and  Venetia;  but  still,  in 
their  sober  and  serious  moments,  the  wife  could  now  only 
look  upon  the  husband  as  the  willing  accompUce  of  her 
shame,  and  the  husband  could  only  regard  the  wife  as  a 
polluted  profligate. 


308  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


If  we  have  paused  to  place  all  these  explanatory  details 
upon  record,  it  has  only  been  for  the  purpose  of  showing  that 
Venetia  was  not  likely  to  experience  remorse  or  compunction 
while  awaiting  the  presence  of  the  admirer  whom  she  was 
now  expecting.  On  the  contrary,  as  she  lay  pillowed  upon 
the  flocculent  cushions  of  the  sofa,  cradled  in  the  soft  sensu- 
ousness  of  her  own  thoughts,  receiving  upon  her  slightly 
clad  person  the  warmth  of  that  bright  red  fire,  in  an  atmos- 
phere flooded  with  the  serenely  mellowed  light  and  filled 
with  a  delicious  fragrance,  she  seemed  resolved,  as  it  were, 
to  abandon  herself  wholly  to  the  pleasure  of  the  present 
moment  in  order  that  she  might  the  more  deeply  luxuriate 
in  the  enjoyments  that  were  soon  to  come.  Thus  were  her 
passions  gradually  exciting  themselves  and  her  desires 
being  worked  up  to  the  highest  degree,  not  only  by 
the  scope  which  she  allowed  her  imagination  to  take 
and  the  bliss  in  which  she  permitted  her  fancy  to  run 
riot,  but  also  by  the  surrounding  influences  of  the 
scene. 

At  length,  when  she  was  becoming  absolutely  impatient 
of  delay  and  wondering  wherefore  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon 
came  not,  a  gentle  tap  at  the  door  reached  her  ear  and 
thrilled  like  a  galvanic  flood  of  ecstasy  through  her  entire 
frame.  She  rose,  she  unlocked  the  door,  and  then  she  flew 
back  to  the  sofa,  a  sudden  but  momentary  feeling  of  shame 
seizing  her  at  the  idea  of  appearing  in  that  seminude  condi- 
tion in  the  presence  of  one  in  whose  embraces  she  was  as  yet 
a  stranger. 

She  heard  him  enter,  close  the  door,  then  lock  it  again  with 
strictest  caution;  and  a  moment  afterward  he  was  by  her 
side,  snatching  her  in  his  arms  and  covering  her  with  caresses. 
But  heavens!  what  words  can  depict  the  surprise,  the  amaze- 
ment, nay,  even  the  consternation  which  seized  upon  her 
when,  instead  of  being  strained  to  the  breast  of  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon,  she  found  herself  in  the  arms  of  the  Earl  of 
Curzon! 

But  at  the  same  instant,  yes,  at  the  very  same  moment 
that  she  made  this  discovery,  did  the  truth  flash  to  her 
comprehension.  She  must  have  given  the  wrong  letter  to 
the  earl!  There  could  be  no  doubt  about  it;  it  was  the  only 
way  to  account  for  the  present  occurrence,  and,  moreover, 
it  was  an  accident  that,  after  all,  might  so  easily  have  hap- 


THE  BOUDOIR 


309 


pened,  seeing  that  neither  note  was  addressed  to  any  particu- 
lar individual. 

Thanks  to  that  consternation  which  thus  seized  upon 
Venetia  at  the  moment  she  found  herself  clasped  in  the  arms 
of  the  Earl  of  Curzon,  she  gave  vent  to  no  cry,  no  ejaculation; 
and  her  presence  of  mind  instantaneously  returning,  her 
resolve  was  taken  almost  as  soon  as  the  discovery  of  the 
misadventure  itself  was  made.  This  resolve  was  to  resign 
herself  to  circumstances.  Refusal  would  be  impossible  as 
well  as  ridiculous  in  respect  to  a  man  who  not  only  had  her 
at  this  instant  in  his  power,  but  who  doubtless  could  also 
produce  the  letter  in  pursuance  of  which  he  had  come  thither. 
Besides  which,  the  ardent  kisses  that  Curzon  lavished  upon 
her  speedily  renewed  those  sensuous  feelings  which  she  had 
herself  been  irritating  by  her  imagination  and  fostering  by 
her  fancy;  and  thus  was  it  that  in  a  very  few  moments  the 
earl  became  the  object  of  all  those  desires  with  which  the 
image  of  the  baronet  had  inspired  her. 

It  was  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  that 
the  Earl  of  Curzon  stole  forth  from  Venetians  boudoir  and 
crept  back  to  the  chamber  which  had  been  allotted  to  him- 
self. To  say  that  he  was  happy  were  to  say  nothing;  his 
countenance  was  radiant  with  triumph.  Pecuniary  embar- 
rassments, troubles  for  the  present,  anxieties  for  the  future, 
and  the  dark  suspicion  that  still  rankled  in  his  mind  relative 
to  his  own  wife,  —  all,  all,  were  forgotten,  all  utterly  lost 
sight  of,  all  absorbed,  as  it  were,  in  the  one  grand  ecstatic 
reflection  that  Venetia,  the  incomparable  Venetia,  had  aban- 
doned herself  to  his  arms. 

But  how  strange,  how  passing  strange  was  this  consum- 
mation, this  sort  of  realization  of  the  pledge  which  he  had 
made  two  months  back  when  he  stood  in  her  presence  at 
Acacia  Cottage!  He  had  then  said,  I  have  sworn  to  possess 
you,  and  I  will  keep  my  vow.  Be  you  guarded  by  all  the 
angels  of  heaven,  I  will  invoke  all  the  devils  of  hell  to  succour 
me  in  carrying  out  my  resolve."  But  without  violence, 
without  craft,  without  the  succour  of  any  of  those  infernal 
powers  which  he  had  threatened  to  enlist  in  his  service,  he 
had  obtained  the  object  of  his  wishes.  It  was  scarcely  a 
triumph;  no,  it  was  not  a  triumph,  because  there  was  no 
preliminary  resistance  offered.   He  had  been  invited  to  take 


310  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


possession  of  the  citadel  at  a  moment  when  he  had  not  been 
dreaming  of  making  warfare  against  it;  and  it  had  surren- 
dered not  merely  at  discretion,  but  willingly,  cheerfully, 
joyfully. 

Such  were  the  earl's  thoughts  on  regaining  the  chamber 
which  had  been  assigned  to  him.  But  perhaps  his  vanity 
would  have  been  somewhat  shocked,  although  his  sensuous 
satisfaction  might  not  have  been  less,  had  some  little  bird 
whispered  in  his  ear  the  secret  that  it  was  purely  and  simply 
through  a  mistake  he  had  been  blessed  with  Venetia's  love 
that  night. 

Immediately  after  the  Earl  of  Curzon  had  stolen  forth 
from  the  boudoir,  Lady  Sackville  rose  from  the  couch  of 
illicit  pleasure  and  rang  the  bell.  Jessica  speedily  made  her 
appearance;  and  the  business  of  the  toilet  then  commenced. 
Still  bent  upon  retaining  that  empire  which  she  had  already 
gained  over  the  mind  of  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  Venetia 
took  considerable  pains  with  herself  in  order  to  set  off  her 
charms  to  the  greatest  advantage.  She  ordered  Jessica 
to  allow  her  hair  to  fall  in  long  flowing  masses  over  her 
shoulders  and  down  her  back;  and  she  chose  a  dress  which, 
fitting  close  to  her  shape,  developed  its  noble  contours  in 
their  luxuriant  fulness  and  their  rounded  plumpness.  Nor  did 
Jessica,  who  loved  her  mistress  and  was  proud  of  her,  — 
more  than  ever  proud  of  her,  indeed,  since  she  had  become 
a  peeress  and  also  the  favourite  of  the  prince  regent,  — 
Jessica,  we  say,  did  not  fail  to  lavish  her  usual  praises, 
encomia,  and  compliments  upon  Venetia's  charms. 

"  Assuredly  your  ladyship  has  the  finest  hair  I  ever  saw,'^ 
observed  the  abigail.  "  Here  it  is  a  shining  mass  of  gold 
where  the  light  falls  upon  it,  there  it  is  of  a  glossy  velvet  dark- 
ness where  the  shade  remains.  If  your  ladyship  were  a  queen, 
this  glorious  hair  would  render  a  crown  needless.  And  your 
ladyship's  neck,  it  is  of  dazzling  whiteness,  arching  so  grace- 
fully, too.  Permit  me  to  arrange  the  body  of  your  ladyship's 
dress.  There,  now  it  exhibits  the  fine  slope  of  the  shoulders; 
how  ravishing  a  picture  to  the  eyes  of  a  male  admirer!  Par- 
don me,  my  lady,  for  venturing  the  observation,  but  your 
bust  is  the  grandest,  the  finest,  the  most  superb  that 
ever  woman  possessed.  There  is  but  one  lady  I  ever 
saw  who  can  at  all  compare  with  your  ladyship  in  this 
respect." 


THE  BOUDOIR 


311 


"  And  who  is  that?  "  asked  Venetia,  with  a  smile  of 
ill-subdued  satisfaction  at  her  abigail's  compliments. 

Lady  Ernestina  Dysart,"  responded  Jessica.  But 
though  her  bust  is  certainly  very  fine,  it  is  not  equal  to  your 
ladyship's.  And  now,  if  your  ladyship  would  permit  me 
to  suggest  that  a  fan  has  become  an  elegant  appendage  to 
even  a  morning  costume  —  " 

''To  be  sure!  —  a  fashion  just  imported  from  France," 
observed  Venetia,  as  she  negligently  took  the  fan  which 
Jessica  presented  to  her. 

But  we  will  not  Hnger  upon  this  portion  of  our  narrative. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  it  was  eleven  o'clock  by  the  time 
Lady  Sackville  had  finished  her  toilet  and  partaken  of  break- 
fast; and  punctually  as  her  watch  indicated  that  hour 
was  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  ushered  up  into  the  boudoir. 

Now  be  it  understood  that  Venetia  was  guilty  of  no  indis- 
cretion, according  to  the  notions  then  prevalent  in  the  fash- 
ionable world,  in  thus  receiving  a  male  visitor  in  her  private 
apartment.  It  was  then  a  common  custom,  borrowed  from 
the  French;  and  therefore  Lady  Sackville  did  not  com- 
promise herself  before  her  servants  by  thus  granting  an 
audience  to  the  baronet  in  that  boudoir. 

Receiving  him  with  the  most  winning  and  enchanting 
affability,  she  seated  herself  near  the  toilet-table  and  pointed 
to  a  chair  close  by,  which  he  immediately  took. 

"  I  am  punctual  to  the  appointment  with  which  you  have 
honoured  —  may  I  not  rather  say  favoured  me,"  he  observed, 
gazing  tenderly  upon  her;  and  this  remark  was  a  further 
proof,  if  any  additional  one  were  wanting,  that  she  had  made 
a  mistake  in  delivering  the  notes  on  the  preceding  evening. 

"  My  dear  Douglas,"  she  said,  for  the  first  time  addressing 
him  thus  familiarly  by  his  Christian  name,  ''  there  is  nothing 
you  can  ask  of  me  which  I  will  not  grant,  provided  you 
consent  to  do  me  that  great  and  essential  service  to  which 
I  alluded  last  night." 

''  Have  I  not  declared  that  you  may  command  me  even 
unto  the  very  death?  "  exclaimed  the  baronet,  taking  her 
hand  and  pressing  it  to  his  lips. 

''  Yes,  yes;  and  I  believe  you,"  she  murmured.  Then 
suddenly  assuming  a  serious  look,  and  speaking  in  a  solemn 
tone,  she  said,  "  My  dear  Douglas,  I  am  about  to  confide  to 
you  a  secret  which  will  prove  how  thoroughly  I  trust  in  your 


312  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


honour,  how  completely  I  throw  myself  upon  your  goodness, 
and  how  implicitly  I  confide  in  your  discretion.  But  the 
world  says  you  are  giddy,  dissipated,  reckless  —  " 

"  By  Heaven!  Venetia,"  exclaimed  the  baronet,  whose 
countenance  had  been  rapidly  lighting  up  with  the  most 
enthusiastic  joy  while  the  lady  was  speaking,  "  think  you 
that  I  am  capable  of  allowing  any  act  of  madness  or  deed 
of  folly  on  my  part  to  entail  injury  upon  you?  No,  by  the 
living  God!  I  could  forswear  wine,  pleasure,  recreation,  ay, 
even  the  most  innocent  amusement,  if  I  read  disapproval 
in  a  word  or  look  of  thine.  Besides,  a  man  must  be  the 
basest  of  the  base  and  the  vilest  of  the  vile  who  would  not 
do  anything,  —  even  to  the  making  of  the  largest  sacrifices, 
— in  order  to  merit  the  confidence  of  such  a  being  as  thou  art.'* 

"  Thank  you,  oh,  thank  you,  Douglas,  for  these  assur- 
ances," said  Venetia,  in  that  delicious  voice  which  sank  low, 
deep,  and  melodious  into  the  very  depths  of  the  soul.  "  And 
now  learn  that  where  I  give  my  confidence  I  also  bestow 
my  love;  and  this  love,  then,  as  well  as  that  confidence 
I  accord  unto  thee." 

"  Oh,  it  is  for  me  —  it  is  for  me  to  express  my  thanks,  my 
illimitable  gratitude,  dearest,  dearest  Venetia!  "  exclaimed 
Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  again  seizing  her  hand  and  pressing 
it  to  his  lips;  then  as  she  bent  toward  him,  her  very  look  and 
attitude  encouraged  him  to  venture  further  still,  and  snatch- 
ing her  in  his  arms,  he  covered  her  lips,  her  cheeks,  and 
her  forehead  with  kisses. 

Gently  disengaging  herself  from  his  embrace  after  lingering 
in  it  a  few  moments,  —  sufficiently  long,  indeed,  to  convince 
him  that  she  resented  not  this  liberty  which  he  had  taken, 
and  that  he  might  hope  in  due  time  for  the  crowning  favours 
of  her  love,  —  Venetia  said,  ^'  I  will  now  impart  to  thee  that 
great  secret  which  I  have  promised  to  reveal."  Then,  after 
a  brief  pause,  during  which  she  reflected  profoundly,  she 
said,  Go  and  unlock  the  ebon  cabinet  behind  that  screen, 
and  bring  me  forth  the  jewel-case  which  you  will  find 
therein." 

Thus  speaking,  she  placed  a  key  in  the  baronet's  hand, 
and  he  at  once  proceeded  to  execute  her  instructions.  The 
lock  being  low  down  in  the  door  of  the  cabinet,  he  had 
to  stoop  even  to  his  knees  in  order  to  introduce  the  key,  the 
screen  rendering  that  nook  of  the  boudoir  comparatively 


THE  BOUDOIR 


313 


dark.  But  at  the  very  moment  that  he  was  thus  kneeUng 
down  behind  the  screen,  the  door  of  the  boudoir  was  gently- 
opened  and  the  Earl  of  Curzon  made  his  appearance. 

He  had  performed  all  the  details  of  his  toilet  save  with 
respect  to  putting  on  his  coat,  instead  of  which  he  wore  an 
elegant  dressing-gown  that  had  been  placed  in  his  chamber 
for  his  use.  Now,  had  he  entered  the  boudoir  properly 
dressed,  there  would  not  have  been  any  impropriety  or  cause 
of  suspicion  in  his  visit;  but  the  fact  of  thus  introducing 
himself  in  a  dressing-gown  was  naturally  indicative  of  a 
more  than  ordinary  familiarity  existing  between  himself 
and  Venetia. 

Such  was  the  thought  that  instantaneously  flashed  to  her 
mind  as  he  made  his  appearance;  and  she  at  once,  with 
admirable  self-possession,  threw  her  arm  over  the  screen 
with  what  to  Curzon  seemed  a  mere  negligent  and  unpre- 
meditated gesture,  but  with  a  wave  of  her  hand  which  to 
Huntingdon  behind  that  screen  was  a  significant  intimation 
that  he  must  remain  concealed  there.  Keeping  therefore  in 
his  kneeling  attitude,  so  as  to  continue  unseen,  the  baronet 
gently  and  noiselessly  kissed  the  tips  of  the  fingers  that  thus 
hung  over  that  barrier  which  concealed  him;  and  this  little 
tender  proceeding  on  his  part  was  meant  to  convey  to 
Venetia  not  only  an  assurance  that  her  hint  was  understood, 
but  that  it  should  also  be  obeyed. 

At  the  same  moment  —  for  indeed  all  these  little  details 
in  the  embarrassing  episode  were  the  work  of  only  an  instant 
—  the  Earl  of  Curzon  hastened  to  throw  himself  at  the  feet 
of  Venetia,  to  whom  he  was  about  to  pour  forth  his  gratitude 
for  the  hours  of  love  he  had  passed  in  her  arms;  but  she 
suddenly  checked  the  flood  of  language  ere  even  a  syllable 
had  time  to  escape  his  lips,  for,  tapping  him  good-naturedly 
with  her  fan,  and  bending  upon  him  an  arch  look,  she  said, 

I  know  you  have  come  to  bid  me  '  good  morning,'  before 
you  take  your  departure  homeward;  and  you  are  now  kneel- 
ing at  my  feet  in  mock  humility  —  " 

On  my  honour!  "  ejaculated  the  earl,  somewhat  sur- 
prised at  a  tone  and  manner  which  were  rather  roguishly 
jocular  than  tender  and  loving,  as  he  had  expected. 

Not  a  word,  my  lord!  "  she  again  interrupted  him; 
and  with  a  rapid  gesture  she  pointed  toward  the  door, 
accompanying  the  movement  with  a  look  suddenly  and 


314  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


earnestly  significant,  as  if  to  warn  him  that  danger  was  nigh 
and  that  he  was  compromising  her.  Yes,  I  know,"  she 
continued,  still  in  that  jocular  tone  which  she  had  previously- 
assumed,  that  you  are  kneeling  here  to  beg  pardon  for 
having  partaken  too  generously  of  my  husband's  punch. 
But  as  I  am  every  moment  expecting  a  visit  —  from  his 
Royal  Highness  —  " 

The  earl  started  to  his  feet;  and  without  uttering  a  word, 
he  pressed  Venetians  hand  tenderly,  darted  upon  her  a  look 
of  mingled  tenderness  and  deep  meaning,  and  then  hurried 
from  the  room. 

An  immense  weight  was  now  suddenly  lifted  from  Venetians 
mind,  and  she  breathed  freely  once  more.  Her  object  was 
gained,  her  purpose  was  won;  she  had  not  only  prevented 
the  earl  from  addressing  her  in  a  manner  which  would  betray 
their  amour,  but  she  had  likewise  kept  Huntingdon  behind 
the  screen  so  that  he  did  not  observe  that  Curzon  had  on  the 
dressing-gown. 

Now  you  can  come  forth  again,  my  dear  Douglas," 
she  said,  starting  from  her  seat  and  looking  gaily  and  rogu- 
ishly at  him  over  the  screen  as  he  rose  to  his  feet.  To  tell 
you  the  truth,"  she  continued,  as  you  were  behind  the 
screen  at  the  moment  the  door  opened,  I  thought  it  best 
for  you  to  remain  there;  hence  the  sudden  sign  which  I 
made  you  to  keep  concealed,  for  had  you  come  forth  as  the 
earl  entered  the  room,  he  might  have  fancied  that  it  was  a 
lover  startled  from  his  hiding-place." 

And  am  I  not  a  lover?  "  asked  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon, 
tenderly,  as  he  embraced  Venetia  over  the  screen,  for  she  gave 
him  those  explanations  with  an  air  of  such  artless  candour 
that  he  did  not  for  an  instant  suspect  her  sincerity;  and, 
indeed,  as  he  had  not  observed  that  the  earl  was  clad  in  a 
dressing-gown,  he  of  course  saw  nothing  more  in  his  visit 
than  the  interpretation  which  Venetia  had  so  artfully  put 
upon  it  at  the  time,  namely,  that  he  had  come  to  bid 
her  good  morning  "  and  apologize  with  good-humoured 
gallantry  for  having  committed  such  a  solecism  in  good 
manners  as  to  drink  too  much  punch. 

^'  Yes,  you  are  indeed  my  lover,  and  a  beloved  one  also," 
said  Venetia,  in  reply  to  the  baronet's  question.  "  And 
now  come  forth  from  behind  that  screen,  and  bring  me  the 
jewel-case." 


THE  BOUDOIR 


315 


The  baronet  did  as  he  was  desired;  and  Venetia,  opening 
the  jewel-box,  drew  forth  the  packet  of  letters  tied  around 
with  the  white  ribbon,  and  over  which  we  have  seen  her 
weeping  so  bitterly.  Unfastening  the  ribbon,  she  selected 
two  or  three  of  the  letters,  and  requested  Sir  Douglas  Hunt- 
ingdon to  glance  his  eye  over  their  contents.  He  did  so; 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  or  perhaps  twenty  minutes  were  thus 
absorbed,  and  while  he  was  perusing  those  letters,  Venetia  sat 
pensive  and  mournful,  watching  his  countenance. 

Now  that  you  have  read  those  letters,"  she  said,  when 
Sir  Douglas  laid  down  the  last  one  which  she  had  given  him 
to  peruse,  you  have  acquired  some  insight  into  the  char- 
acter of  a  being  in  whose  behalf  I  am  about  to  enlist  your 
services." 

Having  thus  spoken,  Venetia  took  the  letters  and  locked 
them  up  in  her  jewel-box  again;  then,  after  a  long  pause, 
during  which  all  her  thoughts  appeared  to  be  held 
in  deep  abstraction,  she  began  to  address  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon  in  a  low  and  solemn  tone  of  confidence. 

But  what  she  then  said  to  him,  the  revelations  which  she 
made  and  the  service  which  she  exacted,  must  remain  at 
present  a  mystery  to  our  readers;  and  therefore  do  we  at 
once  drop  the  curtain  upon  the  scene. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 


THE  LAMB  AMONGST  THE  WOLVES  IN  SHEEP's  CLOTHING 

TuKN  we  now  to  one  of  the  many  handsome  apartments 
of  Leveson  House,  and  there  we  shall  find  the  beautiful 
Louisa  Stanley  seated  in  company  with  Lady  Ernestina 
Dysart. 

Her  ladyship  was  clad  in  the  weeds  of  widowhood,  the 
sable  garb  becoming  her  admirably,  and  setting  off  the 
whiteness  of  her  polished  skin  with  dazzling  effect.  She 
even  wore  the  widow's  cap  with  a  certain  air  of  coquettish- 
ness,  not  suffering  it  to  conceal  altogether  her  light  brown 
hair,  which  now,  instead  of  showering  in  tresses  over  her 
shoulders,  was  arranged  in  simple  bands. 

In  sweet  and  innocent  contrast  with  Ernestina  sat  the 
charming  and  beautiful  Louisa  Stanley.  When  describing 
her  in  an  earlier  chapter,  we  said  that  her  cheeks  were  not 
exactly  of  a  rose  colour,  but  of  an  animated  white,  so  that 
without  being  absolutely  pale,  they  were  of  the  delicate 
bloom  which  deepens  only  through  emotion  or  exercise  into 
the  vermeil  of  the  peach.  Such  was  Louisa's  complexion 
then,  at  the  time  of  her  first  introduction  to  the  reader; 
but  now,  alas !  now  it  was  really  and  truly  pale,  the  hand  of 
grief  having  even  effaced  the  health-tint  of  her  youthful 
bloom.  Indeed,  it  was  only  necessary  to  look  for  a  moment 
into  the  depths  of  her  blue  eyes  to  perceive  that  the  remorse- 
less iron  of  care  had  penetrated  deep,  deep  into  her  soul; 
but  in  the  pensiveness  of  her  mien  and  the  fixity  of  her 
desponding  gaze  it  was  also  easy  to  observe  that  a  true 
Christian  fortitude  so  far  attempered  and  restrained  her 
grief  as  to  prevent  it  from  bursting  forth  into  frenzy  or 
settling  down  into  a  blank  despair. 

It  was  about  midday  when  we  find  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart 

316 


THE  LAMB  AMONGST  THE  WOLVES  317 


and  Louisa  Stanley  thus  seated  together  in  one  of  the 
elegantly  furnished  drawing-rooms  of  Leveson  House.  The 
damsel  had  arrived  there,  in  company  with  the  marquis,  on 
the  preceding  evening;  and  she  instantaneously  became  the 
object  of  so  much  kind  attention  and  sisterly  regard  on  the 
part  of  Ernestina,  that  she  had  already  conceived  a  pro- 
found affection  for  her  ladyship.  To  one  of  her  artless 
simplicity  and  unsuspecting  character  such  a  sudden  fancy 
was  natural  enough;  and  as  she  had  previously  heard  from 
Lord  Leveson  how  his  niece  Ernestina  had  very  lately  lost 
in  so  shocking  a  manner  a  husband  to  whom  she  was  de- 
votedly attached,  Louisa's  sympathy  was  already  excited 
toward  the  afflicted  lady  before  they  even  met.  Indeed,  the 
touching  and  pathetic  tale  which  the  marquis  had  told  Louisa 
upon  that  subject  was  so  artfully  conceived  as  to  appeal  to 
all  the  tenderest  feelings  of  the  maiden,  and  thus  predis- 
posed her  naturally  affectionate  disposition  to  entertain  a 
deep  liking  for  Lady  Ernestina. 

Thus  was  it  that  though  Louisa  Stanley  had  only  been 
a  few  hours  beneath  the  same  roof  with  Lord  Leveson's 
niece,  the  latter  had  already  obtained  a  strong  hold  upon  the 
unsuspecting  girl  and  had  insinuated  herself  entirely  into 
her  confidence.  Therefore,  as  they  now  sat  together,  Ernes- 
tina was  bending  the  kindest  looks  upon  Louisa  and  con- 
versing with  her  in  the  softest  and  tenderest  tones,  while 
the  maiden  felt  as  if  the  music  of  that  voice,  so  full  of  angelic 
commiseration  and  soothing  gentleness,  flowed  like  an  ano- 
dyne into  the  recesses  of  her  wounded  heart. 

My  dear  young  friend,"  said  Lady  Ernestina,  you  are 
doubtless  most  anxious  for  the  return  of  my  uncle." 

"  Ah!  dear  lady,"  cried  Louisa,  "  can  you  not  understand 
that  I  long  to  fold  a  beloved  sister  in  my  arms,  —  a  sister 
from  whom  I  have  been  separated  for  so  many  months?  " 

"  But  I  fear  that  there  must  be  some  mistake  relative 
to  your  sister's  address,"  observed  the  patrician  lady. 

However,  we  shall  see  in  a  few  minutes;  my  uncle  has  been 
gone  nearly  an  hour,  and  we  may  therefore  expect  his  return 
every  moment.   Indeed,  I  wonder  what  keeps  him  so  long." 

"  Is  Stratton  Street  far  from  hence?  "  inquired  Louisa. 
Far!  "  ejaculated  Lady  Ernestina.    "  Oh,  no,  it  is  not 
five  minutes'  walk;  but  I  had  forgotten  that  this  is  the  first 
time  you  ever  visited  London.    When  you  were  giving  me 


318  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


that  rapid  outline  of  your  history  this  morning,  you  men- 
tioned the  name  of  Beckford,  and  observed  that  your  sister 
was  staying  with  a  lady  and  gentleman  of  that  name." 

Yes;  it  is  not  long  that  they  have  removed  into  Stratton 
Street,"  returned  Louisa;  "  they  used  to  live  at  number  20, 
Hanover  Square." 

Number  20,  Hanover  Square!  "  ejaculated  Ernestina, 
stricken  with  surprise,  and  even  startled  by  the  mention  of 
an  address  which  instantly  conjured  up  fearful  and  mysteri- 
ous associations  in  her  mind.  "  That  is  the  abode  of  the 
Malverns!  " 

"  But  have  you  not  in  London  many  streets  bearing  the 
same  name?  "  inquired  Louisa. 

"  Yes,  to  be  sure;  and  there  may  be  several  Stratton 
Streets,  but  certainly  only  one  at  the  West  End  of  the  town. 
There  may  also  be  another  Hanover  Square,  for  anything 
that  I  know;  but  there  is  assuredly  only  one  of  that  name 
in  the  region  of  fashion.  However,  there  is  no  doubt  but 
the  marquis  will  find  out  your  sister,  whatever  Stratton 
Street  she  may  be  residing  in." 

Louisa's  lovely  countenance  brightened  up  at  these  words, 
and  with  a  look  did  she  thank  Lady  Ernestina  for  the  assur- 
ance. A  brief  pause  then  ensued  in  the  conversation;  for 
Louisa  began  to  wonder  within  herself  whether  Clara  would 
chide  her  for  having  so  long  abandoned  their  afflicted  aunt 
to  the  care  of  a  comparative  stranger,  and  for  hurrying  in 
the  first  place  to  Paris  relative  to  her  lover,  and  now  coming 
up  to  London  expressly  to  behold  and  embrace  a  sister. 

On  the  other  hand,  Lady  Ernestina  was  just  thinking 
how  she  should  enter  upon  a  certain  task  which  her  delectable 
uncle  had  set  her.  For  every  barrier  of  delicate  feeling  and 
pure  sentiment  was  so  far  broken  down  between  the  uncle 
and  niece  that  they  no  longer  sought  to  practise  toward 
each  other  any  concealment  of  disposition  or  principles. 
On  the  one  hand,  the  marquis  knew  that  his  niece  had  been 
a  very  profligate  and  abandoned  demirep,  first  ^dth  a  lover 
of  her  own  choice,  then  with  the  prince  into  whose  arms  she 
was  forced;  he  had  seen  her  so  far  forget  herself  as  to  visit 
a  house  of  ill-fame  in  the  expectation  of  meeting  a  wealthy 
admirer;  he  knew  likewise  that  she  had  actually  been  the 
means  of  consigning  her  husband  to  the  scaffold,  whereas 
she  might  have  saved  him  had  she  chosen. 


THE  LAMB  AMONGST  THE  WOLVES  319 


On  the  other  hand,  Lady  Ernestina  had  experienced 
positive  proof  that  her  uncle  employed  a  procuress,  the 
infamous  Mrs.  Gale,  to  entice  young  females  to  her  house 
in  order  to  appease  his  brutal  lusts.  Moreover,  during  his 
absence  in  Paris,  and  since  the  adventure  with  the  Hang- 
man in  the  treacherous  chair,  she  had  penetrated  into  the 
gallery  of  paintings  and  sculptures,  and  had  thus  obtained 
a  deeper,  ay,  the  deepest,  insight  into  the  hideous  sensuality 
of  her  uncle's  character.  Consquently,  knowing  all  these 
things  of  each  other,  and  mutually  aware,  too,  that  all  these 
things  were  thus  known,  it  would  have  been  the  most  absurd 
of  mockeries  to  maintain  any  longer  the  semblance  of  deli- 
cate feeling,  propriety,  or  virtue;  and  therefore  it  seemed 
as  if  the  marquis,  the  moment  he  returned  from  Paris,  was 
fully  prepared  to  throw  off  the  mask  altogether.  Such 
indeed  was  his  intention;  and  such  was  the  interpretation 
that  Ernestina  put  upon  his  conduct  when  he  whispered  the 
following  words  in  her  ear  after  Louisa  had  been  conducted 
to  her  chamber:  "  I  need  not  tell  you  wherefore  I  have 
brought  this  girl  hither.  She  is  innocent  as  a  lamb,  and 
artless  as  a  child;  it  is  for  you  to  initiate  her  in  the  mysteries 
of  life,  so  that  when  I  choose  to  address  her  in  the  language 
of  passion,  she  may  not  colour  with  shame,  but  with 
desire." 

Thus  had  the  marquis  spoken  to  his  niece  on  the  preceding 
evening,  after  having  consigned  Louisa  to  her  care,  and  just 
before  he  went  to  pay  that  visit  to  the  prince  at  Carlton 
House  which  has  been  mentioned  in  a  preceding  chapter. 
It  was  a  hideous  thing  for  an  uncle  thus  to  address  a  niece, 
a  still  more  hideous  thing  that  a  niece  should  consent  to 
obey  such  instructions  on  the  part  of  an  uncle.  And 
it  may  seem  the  more  dreadful,  too,  inasmuch  as  not  many 
weeks  had  elapsed  since  that  uncle  and  that  niece  were  sitting, 
shamefaced  and  weeping,  in  the  presence  of  each  other,  at 
the  mutual  discoveries  of  frailty  and  demoralization  which 
were  then  made.  But  the  instant  the  mask  thus  fell  from 
their  countenances  the  barrier  of  delicacy  was  speedily 
annihilated  between  them;  and,  moreover,  be  it  observed 
that  in  the  aristocratic  mind  the  rank  weeds  of  vice  and 
crime  spring  up,  when  once  they  have  germinated,  with  an 
astonishing  rapidity,  and  speedily  bloom  in  all  their  poisoned 
luxuriance  in  the  heated  atmosphere  of  fashionable  life. 


320 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


The  brief  pause  which  followed  the  observations  relative 
to  Stratton  Street,  Hanover  Square,  and  Louisa's  sister  was 
interrupted  by  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart  observing,  My  dear 
girl,  I  cannot  suffer  you  to  look  thus  dull  and  miserable." 

"  Ah!  dear  lady,"  said  Louisa,  with  a  profound  sigh,  I 
have  so  much  to  render  me  unhappy." 

Nothing,  absolutely  nothing,"  returned  Lady  Ernestina, 

but  the  loss  of  a  young  man  w^ho  appears  to  be  utterly 
im worthy  of  the  love  you  bestowed  upon  him." 

Oh,  treat  not  the  circumstance  so  lightly,"  exclaimed 
Louisa,  both  shocked  and  amazed  at  the  remark;  for  all 
Ernestina's  previous  allusions  to  the  subject  had  been 
expressive  of  a  tender  condolence  and  delicate  sympathy. 

Dearest  Louisa,"  cried  the  artful  patrician,  not  for 
a  moment  did  I  mean  to  vex  or  startle  you ;  but  I  was  merely 
about  to  introduce  a  truth  which  you  yourself  will  recognize 
sooner  or  later,  namely,  that  the  self-styled  Jocelyn  Loftus 
is  not  the  only  handsome,  intelligent,  and  fascinating  young 
gentleman  in  the  world." 

Oh,  Lady  Ernestina,  if  a  stranger  had  made  that  obser- 
vation to  me,"  exclaimed  Louisa,  now  more  painfully  sur- 
prised and  deeply  shocked  than  at  first,  I  should  have 
regarded  it  either  as  an  insult  or  else  as  a  sign  of  unfeeling 
thoughtlessness." 

I  am  addressing  you,  my  dear  young  friend,"  said  Er- 
nestina, as  a  woman  of  the  world  should  address  a  young 
and  inexperienced  girl." 

''Ah!  lady,"  said  Louisa,  with  a  look  of  angelic  frankness, 
''  never,  never  shall  I  obey  the  dictates  of  any  influence  save 
the  natural  impulses  of  my  own  heart.  I  have  loved  Jocelyn 
tenderly  and  well;  and,  oh,  despite  his  deep,  deep  criminaUty, 
I  love  him,  yes,  love  him  as  tenderly  and  devotedly  still. 
But  there  is  within  me,  lady,  a  feeling  superior  even  to  that 
fond  and  now  hopeless  love  of  mine;  and  this  feeling  is  a 
sense  of  duty  which  tells  me  that  henceforth  Jocelyn  must 
ever  remain  a  stranger  to  me  in  the  world,  no  matter  how 
fondly  his  image  may  be  cherished  in  my  heart." 

"  This  is  the  way  young  maidens  always  talk  when  dis- 
appointed in  their  first  love,"  said  Ernestina,  watching 
Louisa's  countenance  attentively  to  see  how  she  took  the 
remark,  and  whether  it  would  be  prudent  to  venture  any 
further  at  present.    Then,  perceiving  that  the  damsel  be- 


THE  LAMB  AMONGST  THE  WOLVES  321 


came  thoughtful,  as  if  weighing  the  matter  seriously  in  her 
mind,  Ernestina  continued  to  observe,  "  If  you  were  to 
remain  long  with  us  in  London  you  would  soon  perceive  that 
what  you  call  love  performs  but  a  very  secondary  part  in 
genteel  marriages.  I  will  give  you  an  example.  It  is  not  two 
months  since  the  beauty  of  the  fashionable  world,  Venetia 
Trelawney,  married  a  very  handsome,  intelligent,  and  fas- 
cinating young  gentleman  named  Horace  Sackville.  Their 
honeymoon  was  short  indeed,  and  at  its  expiration  they  were 
suddenly  created  Lord  and  Lady  Sackville.  But  that  was 
not  all.  His  lordship  was  at  the  same  time  nominated  to  a 
high  official  situation  in  the  household  of  the  prince  regent; 
and,  accordingly,  the  newly  married  couple  gave  up  their 
beautiful  villa  at  Knightsbridge  and  took  possession  of  a 
suite  of  apartments  in  Carlton  House.  Now  Carlton  House, 
my  dear  Louisa,  is  the  prince  regent's  palace;  and  perhaps 
you  may  have  heard  that  the  prince  regent  himself  is  a 
very  naughty,  wicked  man,  and  much  too  fond  of  the  ladies. 
But,  in  plain  terms,  the  reason  why  Lord  and  Lady  Sackville 
thus  took  up  their  abode  at  Carlton  House  was  in  order  that 
her  ladyship  might  be  under  the  same  roof  with  the  prince, 
whose  favourite  she  has  become.  Thus,  you  see,  although 
it  is  most  probable  that  Lord  and  Lady  Sackville  married 
in  the  first  instance  for  what  is  called  love,  they  hesitated  not 
to  make  the  sacrifice  of  that  feeling  when  titles,  pensions, 
and  places  were  offered  them.  As  a  matter  of  course,  then, 
this  Venetia  of  whom  I  am  speaking  to  you  is  the  mistress 
of  the  prince  — 

Enough!  enough! "  exclaimed  Louisa,  the  colour 
mounting  to  her  cheeks  as  her  pure  soul  revolted  from  the 
narrative  the  main  point  of  which  had  only  just  that  instant 
flashed  to  her  comprehension.  Oh,  if  such  detestable 
creatures  as  this  Venetia  constitute  the  charm,  the  glory, 
and  the  worship  of  your  fashionable  world  of  London,  how 
little  do  I  envy  the  rich  and  the  great  ones  of  this  metropolis! 
Better,  better  far  is  my  own  humble  cottage  situated  in  a 
retired  suburb  of  Canterbury,  and  more  welcome  to  me 
would  prove  a  chaplet  of  the  roses  that  bloom  in  summer 
over  that  cottage  portico  than  the  most  brilliant  coronet 
glittering  upon  the  brow  of  your  titled  lady  of  the  metrop- 
olis." 

Ernestina  was  about  to  respond  to  these  observations, 


322  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


wehn  the  door  opened  and  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  entered 
the  room. 

What  tidings,  my  lord?  "  exclaimed  Louisa,  springing 
from  her  seat  and  bounding  toward  him  with  the  most  eager 
curiosity. 

"  Patience,  patience,  young  lady,"  answered  the  noble- 
man, assuming  a  playful  manner.  "  Your  sister  Clara  does 
indeed  reside  at  the  address  you  mentioned  in  Stratton 
Street,  and  also  with  those  worthy  people,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Beckford,  whom  you  named." 

As  the  marquis  thus  spoke.  Lady  Ernestina  contemplated 
him  with  the  profoundest  astonishment,  which  was  not, 
however,  observed  by  Louisa,  who  was  gazing  intently  upon 
the  nobleman,  but  with  her  suspense  now  relieved  by  a  grad- 
ually expanding  gleam  of  pleasure. 

"  Yes,"  continued  the  marquis,  in  a  tone  which  seemed 
candid  and  frank  enough  to  Louisa,  but  which  nevertheless 
now  satisfied  Ernestina  that  he  was  practising  some  artifice 
upon  the  maiden,  "  yes,  my  dear  girl,"  he  continued,  "  I 
am  delighted  to  have  ascertained  for  your  sake  that  there 
really  is  no  error  in  your  sister's  address;  but  I  am  sorry 
to  inform  you  that  she  is  out  of  town  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Beckford  for  a  few  days,  possibly  a  week." 

Oh,  how  unfortunate  I  am!  "  ejaculated  Louisa,  a  sudden 
cloud  lowering  upon  her  lovely  countenance,  and  the  tears 
starting  forth  upon  her  long  lashes.  But  are  they  gone 
far  from  London?  Can  I  not  hasten  after  them?  Oh,  I  feel 
convinced  that  my  sister  will  be  so  rejoiced  to  see  me." 

"  Unfortunately,"  said  the  marquis,  "  the  servants  in 
Stratton  Street  are  not  aware  whither  their  master  and  mis- 
tress, together  with  Miss  Stanley,  are  gone.  It  is,  however, 
certain  that  they  will  all  return  home  again  in  a  week  or  ten 
days." 

"  Oh,  did  I  not  say  that  I  was  unfortunate?  "  exclaimed 
Louisa,  clasping  her  hands  together  and  now  bursting  forth 
into  a  flood  of  tears.  "  I  dare  not,  must  not,  remain  away 
from  Canterbury;  I  have  already  deserted  my  poor  afflicted 
aunt  too  long.  The  thought  of  thus  abandoning  her  fills  me 
with  remorse;  and  therefore  I  must  hasten  back  home,  and 
postpone  the  hope  of  an  interview  with  my  sister  until  some 
more  auspicious  occasion." 

"  You  have  already  admitted,  my  dear  young  lady,'' 


THE  LAMB  AMONGST  THE  WOLVES  323 


said  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  "  that  I  have  given  you  the 
best  possible  advice  ever  since  you  placed  yourself  under 
my  paternal  guardianship.  Now,  I  beg  of  you  to  do  nothing 
precipitately.  You  know  that  your  aunt  is  kindly  treated 
by  the  young  lady  whom  you  have  left  to  take  care  of  her; 
and  therefore  you  would  do  well  to  remain  here  in  London 
until  the  return  of  your  sister,  who,  depend  upon  it,  would 
never  forgive  you  if  you  did  not  follow  my  advice  in  this 
respect.  My  house  shall  be  your  home;  and  you  know  that 
in  me  you  possess  a  sincere  well-wisher,  although  our  ac- 
quaintance has  been  so  short,  and  although  you  had  likewise 
heard  statements  from  the  lips  of  Miss  Mary  Owen  preju- 
dicial to  my  true  character." 

Artless,  unsuspicious,  and  confiding  though  the  young 
damsel  naturally  was,  yet  there  was  something  in  this  speech 
which  displeased  her.  She  knew  not  what  it  was  that  thus 
seemed  to  grate  upon  some  mysterious  chord  in  her  heart, 
nor  could  she  have  pointed  out  which  particular  sentence 
or  phrase  it  was  that  excited  a  feeling  of  uneasiness  within 
her.  But  certain  it  was  that  alarming  suspicions  suddenly 
took  possession  of  her  mind;  and  the  moment  the  marquis 
endeavoured  to  impress  upon  her  the  conviction  of  his 
sincerity,  some  secret  voice  appeared  to  whisper  from  the 
depths  of  her  soul  that  he  was  deceiving  her.  The  how  or 
the  wherefore  did  not  strike  her,  nor  did  she  pause  to  con- 
jecture; for  now  that  the  train  of  her  suspicions  was  once 
fired,  it  blazed  up  with  astonishing  speed.  Back,  back  to  her 
remembrance  came  vividly  and  forcibly  a  thousand  little 
things  which  Mary  Owen  had  let  drop  relative  to  the  Marquis 
of  Leveson;  she  bethought  herself  also  of  a  certain  peculiar 
expression  which  she  had  frequently  noticed  in  the  regards 
that  he  fixed  upon  her  when  they  were  in  Paris  or  travelling 
together,  and  to  her  memory  returned  the  singular  discourse 
in  which  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart  had  indulged  just  previously 
to  her  uncle's  entrance. 

My  lord,"  she  said,  endeavouring  to  veil  her  fears  and 
therefore  her  suspicions  as  well  as  she  was  able,  I  thank  your 
lordship  for  all  the  kindnesses  I  have  experienced  at  your 
hand;  I  thank  her  ladyship  also  for  the  generous  sympathy 
I  have  received  from  her  during  the  few  hours  I  have  been 
beneath  this  roof.  But  you  must  not  deem  me  ungrateful 
for  so  much  hospitality,  if  I  declare  at  once  that  I  am 


324  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


determined  to  leave  London  without  delay  for  Canter- 
bury." 

''Louisa,  my  dear  girl,"  exclaimed  the  marquis,  evidently 
astounded  and  almost  dismayed  by  this  resolve  so  decisively 
expressed,  and,  at  the  same  time,  there  was  in  his  look 
something  so  sinister  that,  unsophisticated  as  Louisa  was, 
she  at  once  read  therein  the  confirmation  of  her  suspicions, 

you  cannot  think,  you  must  not  entertain  —  no  —  really," 
stammered  the  nobleman,     I  will  not  permit  —  " 

"  My  lord,  I  am  determined  to  hasten  home  without 
delay,"  interrupted  Louisa,  her  courage  rising  in  proportion 
as  her  position  seemed  to  become  more  menacing  and 
dangerous.  "  It  is  not  yet  an  hour  past  noon;  perhaps  your 
lordship  will  allow  one  of  your  domestics  to  order  a  post- 
chaise  to  be  in  immediate  attendance  for  me?  " 

"  The  haste,  the  precipitation,  with  which  you  are  thus 
about  to  depart,  my  dear  young  friend,"  said  Lady  Ernes- 
tina  Dysart,  rising  from  her  seat  and  taking  Louisa's  hand, 
"  would  almost  amount  to  an  impeachment  upon  our  hos- 
pitality, or  indeed  a  mistrust  of  our  friendship  toward  you." 

"  Pray  do  not  deem  me  ungrateful,  nor  thus  prejudge 
my  motives,"  said  Louisa,  with  a  telltale  blush  upon  her 
cheeks  which  showed  that  her  thoughts  were  in  reality 
precisely  as  Ernestina  had  interpreted  them.  Accept  all 
my  thanks,  and  if  you  would  add  to  the  obligations  which 
you  have  imposed  upon  me,  then  suffer  me  to  depart  at  once." 

And  having  thus  spoken,  Louisa  hastened  to  the  bell-pull 
and  rang  it  somewhat  violently. 

At  the  same  instant  the  marquis  and  his  niece  exchanged 
rapid  glances,  expressive  of  the  conviction  that  it  was  useless 
to  try  further  argument  or  persuasion;  and  then  the  signifi- 
cant look  which  the  nobleman  assumed  made  Ernestina 
aware  that  his  lordship  had  determined  upon  strong  and 
coercive  measures. 

A  footman  promptly  answered  Louisa's  summons;  and, 
in  a  tone  of  complete  confidence,  she  said,  Will  you  be  so 
kind  as  to  order  a  post-chaise  to  be  immediately  procured?  " 

The  domestic  bowed  a  respectful  assent;  but  as  he  raised 
his  eyes  again,  at  the  moment  of  turning  to  quit  the  room, 
he  saw  Lord  Leveson  shake  his  head  at  him,  unperceived, 
however,  by  Louisa,  and  the  footman  accordingly  understood 
that  he  was  not  to  order  the  post-chaise. 


THE  LAMB  AMONGST  THE  WOLVES  325 


"  With  your  permission/'  said  Louisa  to  Lady  Ernestina, 
the  moment  the  servant  had  retired,  I  will  now  ascend  to 
my  chamber  and  prepare  for  departure." 

I  will  join  you  there  in  a  few  moments,  Louisa,"  was  the 
reply,  to  see  whether  I  can  be  of  service  to  you,  since  you 
are  determined  to  quit  us." 

Louisa  Stanley  then  left  the  room;  and  the  moment  the 
door  closed  behind  her,  the  marquis  addressed  himself  in 
hurried  and  excited  terms  to  his  niece. 

Ernestina,"  he  said,  you  explained  to  me  this  morning 
how,  during  my  absence  in  France,  a  ruffian  introduced 
himself  into  this  house,  and  how  he  concealed  himself  in  my 
secret  suite  of  apartments.  You  likewise  confessed  to  me 
how  you  and  the  prince  proceeded  thither,  and  how  you 
found  that  burglarious  villain  held  captive  in  one  of  my 
mechanical  chairs.  You  further  told  me  how  this  man 
turned  out  to  be  the  public  executioner,  and  how  the 
prince,  with  a  heavy  bribe,  ensured  his  services  to  buoy  up 
Dysart  till  the  very  last  moment  with  the  hope  of  a  reprieve." 

But  wherefore,  in  the  name  of  Heaven,  recapitulate  all 
these  details?  "  exclaimed  Ernestina,  surveying  her  uncle 
with  astonishment. 

^'  Because,"  he  responded,  in  a  hoarse,  thick  voice,  as 
if  the  profound  concentration  of  a  burning  passion  was 
impelling  him  into  extremes  at  which  he  trembled  and  was 
afraid,  and  forcing  him  to  hold  a  language  to  his  own  niece 
at  which  he  was  both  ashamed  and  shocked,  because," 
he  said,  since  you  have  chosen  to  enter  those  rooms  for 
your  own  pleasure,  you  may  now  revisit  them  for  mine;  and 
because,  since  you  found  seated  in  one  of  those  chairs  a  man 
who  afterward  helped  to  rid  you  of  a  detested  husband,  you 
may  now  inveigle  into  that  same  chair  this  young  girl  on 
whom  I  have  set  my  heart." 

"  But,  good  heavens!  "  cried  Ernestina,  she  is  too  pure, 
too  innocent,  and  this  outrage  cannot  be  perpetrated  with 
impunity." 

Do  not  reason  with  me,"  cried  her  uncle,  impetuously. 
You  see  that  she  is  escaping  from  my  toils,  she  is  bent  upon 
leaving  us,  she  evidently  suspects  something,  and  it  is  only 
by  clipping  the  angel-wings  of  her  innocence  that  we  can 
prevent  this  startled  dove  from  flying  away." 

Well,  be  it  as  you  will,"  said  Ernestina.  "  You  doubtless 


326  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


foresee  all  the  consequences,  and  I  will  do  as  you  command. 
But  tell  me  —  one  word  —  what  is  all  this  mystery  about 
her  sister,  these  unknown  Beckfords,  and  Stratton  Street?  " 

"  Oh,  such  a  mystery,  indeed,  such  a  secret  as  I  have 
learned  this  day!  "  exclaimed  the  marquis.  ^'  But  I  cannot 
explain  myself  now;  on  another  occasion  I  will  tell  you  all, 
everything,  and  then  you  will  indeed  be  as  much  astonished 
as  I  was.  But  now  hasten  and  do  as  I  have  bid  you.  Here 
is  the  key  of  the  door  opening  from  the  Crimson  Drawing- 
room." 

Ernestina  darted  a  look  of  intelligence  upon  her  uncle  as 
she  took  the  key,  —  a  look  which  told  him  as  plainly  as 
possible  that  all  which  depended  on  herself  should  be  done 
to  facilitate  his  designs.  Then,  quitting  the  apartment 
where  this  colloquy  had  taken  place,  she  repaired  first  to  the 
Crimson  Drawing-room  to  unlock  the  door  leading  into  the 
secret  chambers,  and  then  hurried  up-stairs  to  Louisa's 
room. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 


THE  WOLVES  THROWING  OFF  THEIR  DISGUISE 

In  the  meantime  Louisa  had  sought  the  chamber  where 
she  had  passed  the  preceding  night,  and  she  immediately 
began  to  pack  up  her  trunk  for  departure.  Not  for  an  instant 
did  she  suspect  that  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  had  dared 
negative  her  orders  to  fetch  the  post-chaise;  but  still  she 
felt  that  she  should  breathe  more  freely  when  beyond  the 
threshold  of  this  grand,  aristocratic  mansion,  the  very  at- 
mosphere of  which  seemed  heavy,  oppressive,  and  ominous 
of  the  dead  lull  and  stifling  closeness  which  pervades  the 
outburst  of  the  storm. 

Scarcely  had  she  finished  packing  her  trunk  when  Lady 
Ernestina  Dysart  entered  she  chamber. 

My  dear  Louisa,"  said  the  artful  woman,  assuming  a 
look  of  such  well-feigned  sorrow  that  the  maiden  was  com- 
pletely thrown  off  her  guard  thereby,  and  began  to  fancy 
that  she  had  wronged  even  the  marquis  himself  by  her  sus- 
picions, "  my  dear  Louisa,"  repeated  her  ladyship,  in  the 
most  soothing,  endearing,  and  sympathetic  tone,  I  am 
truly  vexed  that  you  purpose  to  leave  us  thus  suddenly; 
but  my  uncle  desires  me  to  say  that  he  will  watch  for  your 
sister's  return  home  in  company  with  her  kind  friends,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Beckford,  and  he  will  let  you  know  through  me 
when  you  can  come  back  to  London  with  the  certainty  of 
meeting  her." 

"  I  am  truly  grateful,"  said  our  heroine,  "  for  this  proof 
of  kind  consideration  on  the  part  of  his  lordship  and  yourself." 
But  still  Louisa  spoke  with  a  certain  degree  of  restraint,  for 
she  could  not  give  facile  utterance  to  words  that  came  not 
wholly  from  her  heart. 

"  Oh,  do  not  thank  me  for  anything  which  I  may  do  for 

327 


328  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


you,"  exclaimed  Eernestina;  it  is  a  real  pleasure  to  serve 
so  sweet  a  girl  as  yourself.  And  now,  my  dear  Louisa,  as  it 
will  be  a  quarter  of  an  hour  at  least  before  the  post-chaise 
is  ready,  I  have  ordered  refreshments  to  be  served  up  in  my 
own  chamber;  and  thither  must  you  accompany  me,  so  that 
we  may  have  a  few  minutes'  tete-cc-tete  before  you  leave." 

This  proposal  was  made  with  so  much  friendly  candour 
and  winning  affability  that  Louisa  did  not  hesitate  to  accept 
it.  Lady  Ernestina  accordingly  led  the  way  first  into  the 
Crimson  Drawing-room,  and  thence  into  the  adjoining  apart- 
ment, the  elegance  of  which  naturally  excited  Louisa's 
admiration,  notwithstanding  the  claims  which  other  and  far 
more  serious  matters  had  upon  her  thoughts.  But  her 
patrician  guide  did  not  allow  her  much  leisure  to  contem- 
plate this  room,  with  its  luxurious  sofas  ranged  all  around 
the  walls,  its  splendid  porcelain  vases  exhaling  delicious 
perfumes,  and  its  exquisitely  chased  silver  lamp  suspended 
to  the  ceiling.  Opening  the  door  at  the  farther  extremity, 
Ernestina  conducted  the  maiden  into  the  next  room,  where, 
as  the  reader  will  remember,  the  carpet  was  the  thickest 
ever  trodden  upon,  and  where  the  armchairs  were  the  most 
massive  ever  seen,  —  provided,  too,  with  cushions  of  cor- 
responding proportions. 

This  is  the  anteroom  to  my  own  chamber,"  said  the 
false-speaking  and  evil-intentioned  Ernestina,  ^'  and  I 
ordered  the  refreshments  to  be  served  up  here.  I  suppose 
the  footman  must  have  misunderstood  me,"  she  continued, 
assuming  a  tone  of  vexation.  "  Sit  down,  my  dear  girl," 
she  added,  affably  pointing  to  a  chair,  ^'  and  I  will  ring  the 
bell  for  luncheon." 

Louisa  unhesitatingly  proceeded  to  place  herself  where 
the  treacherous  lady  thus  pointed;  but  scarcely  had  the 
young  virgin's  form  made  its  imprint  upon  the  flocculent 
cushion  when  the  sudden  click  of  the  secret  mechanism  was 
heard,  and  she  found  herself  strangely  but  alarmingly  held 
captive  by  means  of  the  springs  that  clasped  her  wrists  and 
the  steel  bands  that  fastened  their  gripe  upon  her  shoulders. 

The  terror  of  consternation  for  a  few  moments  sealed 
her  lips;  but  as  she  beheld  Lady  Ernestina  suddenly  dis- 
appear through  a  door  which  opened  in  the  wall  exactly 
facing  the  treacherous  chair,  the  unfortunate  girl  saw  indeed 
too  well  that  she  was  betrayed,  and  a  piercing  scream  burst 


WOLVES  THROWING  OFF  DISGUISE  329 


from  her  lips.  But  almost  immediately  after  Ernestina  had 
flitted  away  so  abruptly,  and  while  that  rending  scream 
was  still  vibrating  through  the  suite  of  rooms,  the  Marquis 
of  Leveson  stood  before  his  intended  victim. 

He  had  entered  by  that  same  door  through  which  his  niece 
had  fled;  and  closing  it  behind  him,  he  at  once  said,  in  a  low 
but  earnest  tone,  "  Louisa,  your  cries  are  unavailing;  no 
mortal  ear  do  they  reach  beyond  the  four  walls  of  this  room, 
and  therefore  I  need  scarcely  observe  that  you  are  in  my 
power." 

My  lord,  my  lord,"  faltered  the  maiden,  in  a  dying  tone, 
while  her  brain  grew  dizzy  and  a  film  came  over  her  eyes, 
"  take  pity  upon  the  friendless  orphan  who  never  injured 
you." 

"  Oh,  Louisa!  "  exclaimed  the  marquis,  fixing  upon  her 
those  satyr  eyes  that  were  burning  with  desire,  to  ask 
mercy  for  yourself  is  to  tell  me  to  make  an  impossible  sacri- 
fice. Listen  to  me,  dear  girl,  do  not  despair,  do  not  give  way 
to  grief,  do  not  look  thus  wildly,  thus  vaguely  upon  me. 
You  know  that  I  bear  one  of  the  loftiest  and  proudest  titles 
in  England,  that  my  riches  are  immense;  you  have  seen 
enough  of  this  mansion  here  to  know  that  it  is  spacious  and 
magnificent,  and  I  may  add  that  in  the  loveliest  spots  of 
England  there  are  country-seats,  perfect  paradises  in  them- 
selves, of  which  I  am  also  the  possessor.  Of  this  lofty  title, 
then,  will  I  make  thee  the  sharer,  of  this  wealth  will  I  make 
thee  the  mistress;  my  mansions,  my  domains,  my  rural 
vilas,  all  shall  be  thine,  Louisa,  if  thou  wilt  give  me  thy  love." 

Our  heroine  heard  the  tones  of  the  nobleman's  voice,  but 
comprehended  not  what  he  said.  There  was  a  hurry  in  her 
brain  that  made  her  thoughts  a  whirlwind  and  threw  her 
senses  into  confusion.  All  she  knew  was  that  some  tremen- 
dous danger  menaced  her,  and  that  she  was  sinking  beneath 
the  weight  of  an  ineffable  consternation. 

The  marquis  saw  that  she  was  thus  overwhelmed,  that  her 
head  was  drooping,  and  that  her  senses  were  slowly  aban- 
doning her;  and  he  thought  within  himself,  I  will  not 
excite  nor  arouse  her,  I  will  let  her  sink  into  insensibility, 
and  then  —  " 

The  instant  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart  had  performed  her 
treacherous  part  toward  poor  Louisa  Stanley,  she  disap- 


330  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


peared  from  the  presence  of  the  outraged  maiden  in  the 
manner  already  described.  The  reader  will  have  compre- 
hended that  she  touched  the  secret  spring  and  opened  the 
invisible  door  communicating  with  her  uncle's  room,  where 
indeed  his  lordship  had  been  awaiting  the  issue  of  the  ad- 
venture. 

Hastily  teUing  him  that  the  deed  was  done,  Ernestina 
traversed  the  bedchamber  and  hurried  into  the  Crimson 
Drawing-room,  where  she  threw  herself  upon  a  sofa,  palpi- 
tating with  excitement.  For  bad,  depraved,  and  unprincipled 
though  she  was,  she  nevertheless  felt  shocked  and  frightened 
in  the  presence  of  this  tremendous  iniquity  to  which  she  had 
lent  herself. 

Not  many  moments,  however,  did  she  thus  give  way  to 
her  painful  reflections  ere  she  was  startled  by  the  entrance 
of  a  footman,  saying,  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  requests 
an  immediate  interview  with  either  my  lord  marquis  or  your 
ladyship." 

Ernestina  was  about  to  desire  the  domestic  to  say  that 
neither  she  nor  her  uncle  was  at  home,  when  the  baronet, 
who  had  followed  close  behind  the  footman,  now  walked 
unceremoniously  into  the  room. 

The  lackey  accordingly  retired;  and  this  singular  be- 
haviour on  the  part  of  Huntingdon  so  increased,  or  indeed 
so  completely  crowned  Ernestina's  agitation  that,  all  woman 
of  the  world  though  she  was,  she  felt  covered  with  confusion. 

Pardon  this  intrusion,  my  lady,"  said  Huntingdon, 
who  spoke  in  the  tone  and  with  the  air  of  a  man  bent  upon 
the  performance  of  some  decisive  part;  "  but  I  must  see 
the  marquis  immediately." 

"  My  uncle  is  particularly  engaged,"  faltered  Lady  Er- 
nestina, a  deep  blush  suffusing  her  cheeks  and  running  up 
even  unto  her  forehead,  so  that  it  was  lost  beneath  the 
massive  bands  of  her  Hght  brown  hair. 

"  If  I  cannot  see  the  marquis,  then,"  resumed  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon,  immediately,  "  your  ladyship  will  perhaps 
have  the  kindness  to  afford  me  an  interview  with  Miss 
Louisa  Stanley,  who  is  now  staying  at  Leveson  House." 

Ernestina  gave  a  visible  start  as  this  demand  smote  her 
ears;  and  with  the  instinctive  impulse  of  a  guilty  conscience, 
she  cast  her  eyes  rapidly  toward  the  door  communicating 
with  the  private  suite  of  apartments. 


WOLVES  THROWING  OFF  DISGUISE  331 


Sir  Douglas,  who  was  keenly  alive  to  every  look  or  gesture 
on  the  part  of  the  lady,  and  who  saw  in  her  increasing  con- 
fusion something  calculated  to  excite  the  most  alarming 
suspicions,  failed  not  to  observe  that  glance  which  she  in- 
voluntarily flung  toward  the  door.  He  was  no  stranger 
to  the  existence  of  that  suite  of  apartments.  As  one  of  the 
most  intimate  friends  of  Lord  Leveson,  all  the  treacherous 
or  licentious  mysteries  thereof  were  well  known  to  him; 
and  it  was  therefore  natural  that  he  should  now  suddenly 
argue  the  very  worst.  He  had  been  told  that  Leveson  was 
particularly  engaged;  his  visit  had  evidently  overwhelmed 
Lady  Ernestina  with  confusion  and  dismay,  and  that  telltale 
look  which  she  had  flung  at  the  door  of  the  private  chambers 
at  once  seemed  to  afford  a  clue  to  all  that  was  passing. 

Ah!  I  understand,"  exclaimed  the  baronet;  my 
friend  the  marquis  is  in  those  rooms,  and  as  I  am  no  stranger 
to  the  mysteries  of  his  mansion,  I  will,  with  your  ladyship's 
permission,  at  once  seek  him  there." 

As  he  thus  spoke.  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  hastened  to- 
ward the  door  of  the  private  apartments;  but  Lady  Ernes- 
tina sprang  after  him  and  caught  him  by  the  arm,  exclaim- 
ing, No,  sir,  you  must  not  intrude  upon  my  uncle's  pri- 
vacy." 

"  I  am  well  aware,  as  a  matter  of  course,"  said  Huntingdon, 

that  my  behaviour  may  seem  somewhat  extraordinary; 
but  it  will  be  your  ladyship's  fault  if  it  now  merge  into 
downright  rudeness. 

"  Rudeness!  what  do  you  mean,  sir?  "  ejaculated  Ernes- 
tina, a  deeper  crimson  than  before  suffusing  her  face,  and  her 
eyes  flashing  angrily.  "  You  surely,  as  a  gentleman,  are 
incapable  of  rudeness  toward  me,  a  lady?  " 

"  Then,  as  a  lady,"  cried  the  baronet,  in  a  stern  and  even 
imperious  tone  such  as  perhaps  he  had  never  used  in  his  hfe 
before,  conduct  yourself  like  a  lady,  and  depend  upon  it 
I  should  never  dream  of  treating  you  otherwise." 

Again  I  demand  of  you,  sir,  what  you  mean  by  this 
insulting  observation? "  cried  Ernestina,  now  labouring 
under  a  terrible  excitement. 

I  mean,"  responded  the  baronet,  with  a  significance 
of  look  and  a  determination  of  manner  that  made  her  quail 
and  recoil  in  dismay,  "  I  mean  that  if  you  prevent  me  from 
entering  those  rooms,  I  shall  suspect  that  you  are  acquainted 


332  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


with  all  the  mysteries  which  they  contain;  and  this  will  not 
be  highly  creditable  to  you.  Moreover,  if  I  discover  that 
anything  outrageous  or  vile  is  now  passing  in  those  rooms, 
I  shall  be  justified  in  setting  you  down  as  the  accessory 
and  the  accomplice." 

Ernestina  fell  crushed  and  annihilated  upon  a  chair, 
burying  her  face  in  her  hands;  for  it  appeared  to  her  as  if 
her  whole  heart  was  suddenly  laid  bare  in  its  boundless 
depravity  to  the  view  of  that  man  who  addressed  her  in  a 
tone  of  such  haughty  confidence,  stern  remonstrance,  and 
terrible  menace. 

The  baronet,  having  thus  silenced  and  subdued  that 
lady  whose  complicity  in  her  uncle's  licentious  proceedings 
was  now  too  evident,  lost  no  time  in  opening  the  door  leading 
into  the  secret  apartments,  and  which  Ernestina  had  ere 
now  left  unlocked  after  conducting  Louisa  thither. 

Meantime  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  perceiving  that  Louisa 
Stanley  was  rapidly  losing  her  consciousness,  and  that  she 
was  indeed  fainting  in  that  chair  which  so  treacherously 
held  her  captive,  stood  for  a  few  moments  gloating  upon 
the  charms  of  which  he  hoped  so  soon  to  become  the  master. 
Her  head  hung  down  upon  her  bosom,  of  which  his  lustful 
eyes  caught  a  sUght  ghmpse;  and  the  bands,  clasping  her 
shoulders,  held  her  back  in  such  a  manner  that,  though  her 
charming  head  thus  drooped  hke  a  flower  on  its  tall  slender 
stalk,  yet  her  form  was  retained  upright  in  the  chair.  There- 
fore his  gaze  could  slowly  wander  over  the  graceful  symmetry 
and  virgin  contours  of  that  exquisite  shape,  —  a  shape  that 
possessed  all  the  Hght  and  airy  elegance  of  the  sylph,  with 
just  sufficient  fulness  to  denote  that  the  last  stage  of  girl- 
hood was  bursting  into  the  luxuriant  bloom  and  ripeness  of 
womanhood. 

But  just  at  the  moment  when  the  Marquis  of  Leveson 
fancied  that  our  heroine  was  sinking  into  a  profound  insen- 
sibihty,  and  while  all  his  detestable  passions  were  boiling 
up  to  a  frenzied  degree  at  what  appeared  to  be  the  close 
consummation  of  his  diaboUcal  project,  just  at  the  instant, 
in  fact,  that  he  beUeved  himself  to  be  touching  on  his  crown- 
ing infamy,  Louisa  appeared  to  be  startled  suddenly  back 
to  full  consciousness. 

Raising  her  head,  she  gazed  for  a  moment,  a  single  moment. 


WOLVES  THROWING  OFF  DISGUISE  333 


wildly  around  her;  then,  all  the  tremendous  truth  flashing 
to  her  recollection  and  all  the  incidents  of  her  position  re- 
curring vividly  to  her  comprehension,  she  gave  vent  to 
another  loud,  long,  and  piercing  scream. 

Foolish  girl!  I  have  told  thee  that  thy  cries  are  vain," 
said  the  marquis,  going  straight  up  to  her  and  looking  her 
full  in  the  face.  Will  you  be  mine,  I  say,  voluntarily? 
Will  you  yield  of  your  own  accord,  and  accept  my  hand, 
my  fortune,  my  title  —  " 

But  scream  upon  scream  thrilled  from  the  maiden's  lips; 
and  the  marquis,  stamping  his  foot  with  rage,  was  bursting 
forth  into  violent  threats,  when  suddenly  the  door  be- 
tween this  and  the  first  room  of  the  suite  was  thrown 
violently  open,  and  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  sprang  into 
the  presence  of  the  startled  nobleman  and  his  intended 
victim. 

"  Release  this  young  lady  immediately,''  exclaimed  the 
baronet,  laying  his  hand  upon  the  collar  of  the  marquis. 

"  What!  you,  Huntingdon,  thus  to  interfere  with  the 
pursuits  of  an  old  friend?  "  faltered  Leveson,  not  knowing 
what  to  think  of  the  intrusion. 

"  Let  us  not  bandy  words,"  said  the  baronet,  sternly; 

you  see  that  I  am  resolute.  Come,  I  understand  not  pre- 
cisely the  mechanism  of  this  chair,  but  I  command  you  to 
release  Miss  Louisa  Stanley  forthwith." 

The  nobleman  saw  that  Huntingdon  was  not  only  in 
earnest,  but  also  fully  bent  upon  the  deliverance  of  the 
maiden;  and  accordingly,  with  a  hand  trembling  as  if  sud- 
denly palsied,  the  marquis  touched  the  spring  which  instanta- 
neously released  our  heroine  from  her  captivity. 

Falling  at  the  feet  of  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  in  the 
enthusiasm  of  her  joy  at  this  sudden  and  providential 
liberation,  Louisa  took  his  hand  and  pressed  it  with  all  the 
fervour  of  her  young  heart's  gratitude.  The  baronet  hastened 
to  raise  her;  and  fixing  his  eyes  upon  the  marquis,  who 
stood  by  pale  and  trembling  with  rage,  he  said,  Nothing 
of  all  this  shall  be  known  if  you  permit  Miss  Louisa  Stanley 
to  depart  from  your  house  without  any  further  attempt  at 
molestation.  But  if  a  finger  be  raised  to  impede  her  passage, 
I  will  adopt  any  measure,  no  matter  how  much  calculated  to 
expose  you  —  " 

Retire  then  —  go  —  depart,"  faltered  the  marquis,  with 


334  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


a  strong  effort  to  subdue  the  violence  of  his  passion;  but 
I  beseech,  I  implore  Miss  Louisa  Stanley  not  to  betray  me, 
and,  above  all  things,  not  to  breathe  a  word  to  the  ruin  of 
my  niece." 

Our  heroine's  heart  was  too  full  of  joy  at  her  happy  de- 
liverance to  allow  her  tongue  to  utter  a  word;  but  Sir 
Douglas  Huntingdon  said,  emphatically,  I  promise  you, 
Leveson,  on  my  honour  as  a  gentleman,  that  nothing  of  all 
this  shall  be  revealed  elsewhere." 

Having  thus  spoken,  the  baronet  hastily  conducted 
Louisa  Stanley  into  the  Crimson  Drawing-room,  closing 
behind  them  the  doors  through  which  they  passed.  Lady 
Ernestina  was  no  longer  there;  she  had  retired  in  shame, 
terror,  and  grief,  to  her  own  apartment,  leaving  the 
perplexing  and  menacing  adventure  to  take  its  own 
course. 

"  Miss  Stanley,"  the  baronet  now  said,  the  moment  they 
were  together  in  the  Crimson  Drawing-room,  have  the 
goodness  to  read  this  note." 

The  damsel  instantaneously  took  the  billet  which  was 
presented  to  her,  and  an  ejaculation  of  joy  fell  from  her  lips 
as  she  recognized  her  sister's  handwriting.  Tearing  open 
the  note,  she  read  the  following  words: 

"  13,  Stratton  Street, 
Nov.  16,  1814. 
The  bearer  of  this,  my  ever  dear  Louisa,  is  a  gentleman 
in  whom  you  may  confide.    He  will  take  you  away  from 
a  place  where  you  are  surrounded  by  manifold  dangers  and 
will  bring  you  at  once  to  me. 

"  Your  affectionate  sister, 

"  Clara." 

Words  are  incapable  of  describing  the  dehght  and  happi- 
ness which  now  sprang  up  in  Louisa's  bosom,  even  to  the 
absorption  for  the  time  being  of  her  grief  on  account  of  her 
lover's  presumed  infidelity. 

"  Then  my  sister,  my  beloved  sister,  is  indeed  in  town,'^ 
she  exclaimed,  "  and  the  marquis  deceived  me." 

No,  Miss  Stanley,  he  did  not  altogether  deceive  you," 
answered  the  baronet;  for  if  he  had  not  called  in  Stratton 
Street  ere  now,  your  sister  could  not,  of  course,  have  known 


WOLVES  THROWING  OFF  DISGUISE  335 


that  you  were  at  Leveson  House  or  even  in  London  at  all. 
But  the  truth  is  this:  your  sister  was  indeed  absent  from 
town  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beckford,  but  she  came  back 
suddenly  and  alone,  in  order  to  execute  some  httle  commis- 
sion for  Mrs.  Beckford.  She  arrived  in  Stratton  Street  only 
a  few  minutes  after  the  marquis  had  left.  Knowing  his  evil 
reputation,  she  was  shocked  and  horrified  at  the  idea  of  her 
sister  being  beneath  his  roof;  and  as  I  happened  to  call  at 
the  moment,  she  besought  me  to  com.e  with  this  note  which 
you  have  just  read.  My  carriage  is  at  the  door,  and  so  soon 
as  you  are  ready,  I  shall  have  much  pleasure  in  escorting  you 
to  Stratton  Street." 

Louisa  hastened  up-stairs  for  her  bonnet  and  scarf,  with 
which  she  speedily  returned  to  the  Crimson  Drawing-room, 
well  pleased  at  encountering  neither  the  marquis  nor  Lady 
Ernestina  upon  the  stairs.  Having  rung  the  bell,  she  ordered 
the  footman  who  answered  the  summons  to  have  her  trunk 
taken  down  to  the  baronet's  carriage,  which  was  waiting 
at  the  door;  and  when,  in  a  few  minutes,  the  domes- 
tic announced  that  her  commands  had  been  executed, 
she  accompanied  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  from  Leveson 
House. 

And  now  who  can  describe  the  feelings  of  this  young, 
beautiful,  and  artless  girl  as  she  took  her  seat  in  the  vehicle 
which  was  to  convey  her  to  that  sister  from  whom  she  had 
been  separated  for  five  long  months?  Yet  while  rolling 
along  in  the  handsome  equipage,  she  did  not  forget  to  renew 
her  thanks  to  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  for  the  immense 
service  which  he  had  rendered  her;  but  he  assured  the 
charming  girl  that  he  was  only  too  happy  in  having  arrived 
at  Leveson  House  so  seasonably  as  to  rescue  her  from  the 
peril  in  which  the  darkest  and  deepest  treachery  had  placed 
her.  Indeed,  to  tell  the  truth,  as  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon 
contemplated  with  respectful  admiration  the  lovely  damsel 
by  his  side,  he  could  not  help  thinking  that  there  was  even 
in  the  world  a  pleasure  more  genuine  and  more  sweet  than 
to  triumph  over  innocence,  —  namely,  to  rescue  it  from 
impending  ruin. 

But  neither  the  baronet  nor  Louisa  had  many  minutes  for 
reflection  or  conversation,  inasmuch  as  the  carriage  soon 
dashed  up  to  the  door  of  a  handsome  house  in  Stratton 
Street;  and  looking  forth  from  the  window  of  the  vehicle, 


336  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


our  heroine  beheld  the  countenance  of  her  sister  at  one  of 
the  casements  of  the  drawing-room. 

In  another  minute  Louisa  was  clasped  —  firmly,  fondly 
clasped  —  in  the  embrace  of  that  affectionate  sister;  and  not 
only  their  kisses  but  also  their  tears  were  mingled. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 


THE  SISTERS 

The  drawing-room  where  the  sisters  thus  met  was  very 
handsomely  furnished,  and  bore  all  the  evidences  of  a  refined 
female  taste.  It  was  the  same  room  where  Jocelyn  Loftus 
had  seen  Clara  Stanley  on  the  occasion  of  his  visit  to  London, 
and  where  she  had  given  her  approval  of  his  suit  in  respect 
to  Louisa. 

The  sisters  were  now  alone  together;  for  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon  had  not  followed  our  heroine  up  into  that  room, 
but  remained  in  an  apartment  below.  When  the  first  effusion 
of  joy  was  over,  and  the  first  transports  of  delight  at  this 
meeting  were  somewhat  subsided,  Clara  and  Louisa  sat 
down  side  by  side  upon  the  sofa,  and  began  to  contemplate 
each  other  with  the  deepest,  tenderest  interest. 

On  the  one  hand,  Clara  beheld  her  younger  sister  beautiful 
as  ever,  and  with  all  that  ineffable  sweetness  of  look  and 
innocence  of  mien  which  indicated  the  stainless  purity  of  her 
soul.  She  saw  her,  too,  at  great  advantage,  for  the  pallor 
and  the  pensiveness  previously  occasioned  by  Jocelyn's 
supposed  perfidy  had  now  yielded  to  the  roseate  tinge  of  joy 
and  the  brightness  of  look  which  reflected  the  heart's  hoHest 
satisfaction.  Clara  therefore  beheld  her  sister  lovely  and 
lovable  as  she  was  when  they  parted,  —  one  of  the  chastest 
and  most  charming  ornaments  which  the  sex  ever  bestowed 
upon  this  world,  an  incarnation  of  all  the  sweetest,  truest, 
and  most  ethereal  attributes  which  piety  or  poesy  ascribes 
unto  angels. 

On  the  other  hand,  Louisa  beheld  her  sister  more  grandly 
beautiful,  more  superbly  handsome  than  when  they  parted 
under  the  rose-covered  portico  of  their  Kentish  cottage.  She 
saw  in  Clara  a  magnificent  woman  the  glory  of  whose  charms 

337 


338  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


seemed  to  have  expanded  into  a  finer  and  more  dazzling 
bloom  in  the  hothouse  of  London  fashion.  Nor  less  did  it 
strike  Louisa  that  everything  at  all  girlish  which  might  have 
lingered  in  the  manners  or  looks  of  Clara  some  months  back 
had  now  totally  departed.  The  finest  gloss  of  courtly  ele- 
gance seemed  to  rest  upon  her  like  a  charm  and  hang  about 
her  like  a  spell;  there  was  a  grandeur  in  every  movement, 
a  briUiancy  in  every  gesture,  softened  and  subdued  only  by 
the  polish  of  an  exquisite  refinement,  and  more  so  by  the 
tenderness  of  feeling  which  she  now  experienced  at  this 
meeting  with  her  sister.  In  a  word,  our  fair  young  heroine, 
although  she  had  ever  been  accustomed  to  look  up  to  Clara 
as  an  elder  sister,  now  regarded  her  with  the  deference  that 
mingles  in  the  affection  which  a  daughter  experiences  for 
a  mother.  For  Louisa  still  felt  herself  a  mere  girl;  whereas 
Clara  looked  in  every  respect  not  only  the  brilliant  woman, 
but  also  the  great  lady.  Thus  Louisa,  with  her  nineteen  years 
and  a  half,  felt  as  if  she  were  a  miss  of  fifteen  or  sixteen  in 
the  presence  of  this  elder  sister,  who,  though  only  twenty-one 
and  a  half,  possessed  all  the  worldly  demeanour  as  well  as 
the  luxuriance  of  charms  which  characterize  the  superb 
matron  of  at  least  five  or  six  years  older. 

Such  were  the  impressions  respectively  made  by  this 
meeting  of  the  sisters;  and  when  they  had  gazed  long  and 
with  earnest  fondness  upon  each  other,  Louisa  suddenly 
exclaimed,  Oh,  Clara,  are  you  angry  with  me  for  having 
abandoned  my  home,  for  having  gone  to  Paris,  and  now  for 
having  come  up  to  London?  " 

"  Do  not  talk  of  anger,  dearest  girl,"  said  Clara,  while 
our  hearts  are  yet  throbbing  with  all  the  first  transports 
of  joy  at  this  meeting.  Angry  with  you,  dearest  Louisa! 
No,  no,  it  were  impossible.  Not  for  worlds  would  I  bring 
a  tear  into  your  eyes  or  change  into  gloom  those  smiles  which 
now  gleam  so  sweetly  upon  your  lips.  Ah!  dearest  Louisa, 
it  is  as  if  I  were  thy  mother  instead  of  thy  sister  that  I  am 
now  talking  to  thee;  and  it  is  with  such  a  feeling  that  I 
rejoice,  oh,  I  rejoice  unfeignedly,  to  be  enabled  to  pour  balm 
into  thy  wounded  heart." 

Oh,  dearest  Clara,"  interrupted  Louisa,  surveying  her 
sister  with  mingled  amazement  and  suspense,  "  to  what  do 
you  allude?  Alas!  you  cannot  as  yet  know  my  sorrows; 
because,  when  I  sat  down  in  Paris  to  commit  them  to  paper 


THE  SISTERS 


339 


and  send  you  an  account  of  all  that  had  occurred,  the  pen 
dropped  from  my  hands.  Yes,  vainly  did  I  commence  letter 
after  letter;  each  fresh  attempt  only  rendered  my  heart's 
wounds  more  painful;  it  was  Hke  pouring  molten  lead  upon 
the  seared  and  lacerated  flesh.  Pardon  me,  therefore,  dear 
sister,  for  having  thus  preserved  a  silence  which  may  seem 
unkind,  nay,  even  improper  —  " 

Enough,  enough,  dearest  Louisa,"  exclaimed  Clara, 
throwing  her  arms  around  her  young  sister's  neck  and 
drawing  down  that  innocent  head  until  it  reposed  upon  her 
bosom;  from  your  lips  I  need  no  apology,  no  excuse, 
especially  as  I  am  well  acquainted  with  much  that  has 
occurred.  And  to  keep  you  no  longer  in  suspense,  let  me 
assure  you  that  Jocelyn  is  innocent." 

Innocent!  "  echoed  Louisa,  her  own  sweet  lips  thus 
repeating  in  ecstatic  joy  an  assurance  which  other  sweet 
lips  had  just  breathed  in  tenderness;  "  innocent!  "  she 
repeated,  raising  her  head  suddenly  from  her  sister's  bosom, 
her  looks  beaming  and  glittering  with  mingled  joy,  hope, 
and  suspense.  Oh,  if  this  were  true,  if  this  were  true!  " 
and  she  clasped  her  hands  with  a  gesture  expressive  of  in- 
effable emotions. 

It  is  as  I  assure  you,  my  beloved  sister,"  rejoined  Clara 
Stanley.  "  I  would  not  deceive  you  for  a  moment  in  such 
a  case;  no,  not  for  worlds  would  I  deceive  you  where  your 
heart's  best  and  purest  affections  are  engaged." 

Oh,  this  is  happiness,  this  is  happiness  indeed!  "  mur- 
mured Louisa;  and  flinging  herself  into  her  sister's  arms, 
she  wept  tears  of  love  and  gratitude  and  joy  upon  her 
bosom. 

Dear  Louisa,  this  is  the  sweetest  moment  that  I  have 
experienced  for  months  past,"  murmured  Clara,  in  a  voice 
that  was  tremulous  and  low. 

And  then  she  also  wept;  but  we  cannot  say  whether  the 
tears  that  now  streamed  down  her  cheeks  welled  forth  from 
feelings  as  unalloyed  with  pain  and  as  unmixed  with  self- 
reproach  as  those  which  her  sister  experienced,  —  that  fair, 
bright,  and  innocent  sister  whose  tears  were  moistening 
Clara's  heaving  breast  with  their  crystal  purity. 

And  are  you  sure,  very  sure  of  all  this,  dearest  Clara?  " 
inquired  Louisa,  again  raising  her  head  and  bending  upon 
her  sister  a  countenance  beaming  with  smiles  of  innocence 


340  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


and  delight.  But,  oh,  yes,  I  see  that  you  are  confident, 
and  I  will  not  ask  you  to  repeat  your  assurance." 

"  Rely  upon  what  I  say,  dearest  Louisa,"  answered  Clara. 

If  I  were  not  thus  confident  upon  the  subject,  I  would  not 
for  a  moment  venture  the  assertion;  if  a  doubt  existed  in  my 
mind,  I  would  rather  have  left  you  in  the  belief  of  your 
lover's  infidelity  than  encourage  a  hope  which,  after  all,  might 
turn  out  to  be  delusive.  Not  only  is  your  lover  innocent, 
dearest  Louisa,  but  he  is  one  of  the  most  injured  and  perse- 
cuted of  men  in  all  that  concerns  his  imprisonment  in  the 
prefecture  of  poHce,  and  one  of  the  most  virtuous  and 
honourable  of  young  men  in  all  that  regards  his  fidelity  to- 
ward you  and  the  temptations  to  which  he  has  been  sub- 
jected." 

Oh,  Jocelyn,  Jocelyn!  to  think  that  I  should  have 
mistrusted  thee  so  profoundly!  to  think  that  I  should  have 
wronged  thee  so  immensely!  "  murmured  Louisa,  shaking 
her  head  in  despair.  And  yet  Heaven  knows  that  the  cir- 
cumstantial evidence  which  told  against  thee,  Jocelyn,  was  to 
all  appearances  crushing  and  overwhelming.  For  did  not 
the  prefect  himself  assure  me  of  dreadful  things?  Did  I  not 
behold  with  my  own  eyes  a  scene  too  well  calculated  to 
make  me  mistrust  thee?  Did  I  not  even  hear  that  female's 
voice  proclaim  her  love  for  thee?  " 

Ah!  now,  my  dearest  Louisa,"  exclaimed  Clara,  "  you 
are  torturing  yourself  with  misgivings,  in  spite  of  the  cer- 
tainties which  I  have  breathed  in  your  ears.  It  is  true  that  I 
am  not  acquainted  with  all  the  minute  details  of  these  mat- 
ters to  which  you  are  alluding;  but  in  general  terms  I  can 
assure  you  that  your  lover  is  innocent,  that  he  is  even  of  the 
most  rigid  virtue,  that  his  purity  is  incorruptible,  and  that 
whatever  complexion  circumstantial  evidence  may  have 
been  made  to  assume  against  him,  he  will  be  enabled  to 
clear  up  everything." 

"  But  one  word  more,  Clara,"  exclaimed  Louisa;  one 
word  more,  and  then  farewell  to  all  misgivings.  Is  he  really 
living  under  a  false  name?  " 

"  Yes,  that  most  assuredly  he  is,"  exclaimed  the  elder 
sister;  and  to  his  honour  and  credit  is  this  very  fact  which 
has  been  made  not  only  the  cause  of  his  arrest,  but  also  one  of 
the  grounds  of  his  reproach.  But  I  shall  leave  to  him, 
Louisa,  when  the  time  comes,  the  duty  of  explaining  to  you 


THE  SISTERS 


341 


wherefore  he  has  assumed  this  name  of  Jocelyn  Loftus,  and 
what  his  real  name  is.  For  I  feel  assured  that  these  revela- 
tions will  flow  more  sweetly  upon  your  ears  and  sink  down 
more  deliciously  into  your  heart  when  coming  from  the  lips 
of  a  lover,  even  than  from  those  of  a  fond  and  affectionate 
sister.  And  now  one  word  more  relative  to  Jocelyn,  as  we 
must  still  continue  to  call  him  —  " 

Oh,  what  else  have  you  to  say  upon  this  subject?  " 
asked  Louisa,  with  renewed  suspense. 

That  in  a  short  time,  a  very  short  time,  I  hope,  he  will 
be  free,"  returned  Clara.  Indeed,  I  am  convinced  that  he 
will  soon  be  liberated;  and  then,  dear  girl,  he  will  no  doubt 
rejoice  to  give  you  all  those  explanations  which  must  trium- 
phantly prove  his  own  innocence  and  dispel  all  the  mis- 
givings that  still  perhaps  lurk  in  the  depths  of  your  soul." 

He  will  be  free  —  oh,  heavens!  that  there  may  be  no 
disappointment  or  delay  in  the  fulfilment  of  this  hope!  " 
exclaimed  Louisa,  once  more  clasping  her  hands  and  now 
gazing  upward  with  a  fervid  enthusiasm,  so  that  it  was  easy 
to  perceive  that  in  the  depths  of  her  soul  she  prayed  to 
Heaven  to  verify  her  sister's  assurance. 

Whatever  I  tell  you,  dearest  Louisa,  you  may  rely 
upon,"  rejoined  Clara.  And  now  that  I  have  relieved  you 
from  so  much  anxiety  and  changed  your  sorrow  into  heartfelt 
joy,  you  must  give  me  all  the  particulars  of  what  has  occurred 
to  you  relative  to  that  journey  to  Paris  and  this  visit  to 
London." 

"  I  will  tell  you  everything,  dear  sister,"  answered  the 
young  maiden.  ^'  You  are  well  aware,  from  the  letters  which 
I  have  so  constantly  written  to  you,  that  in  the  month  of 
September  Jocelyn  brought  Miss  Mary  Owen  with  him 
from  London  and  desired  that  she  might  find  a  home  at  the 
cottage?  " 

Yes,  while  he  proceeded  to  the  Continent,"  said  Clara, 
taking  up  the  thread  of  her  sister's  discourse,  in  order  to 
defeat  certain  machinations  which  had  been  devised  against 
the  Princess  of  Wales,  and  in  which  the  Owen  family  was 
concerned.  On  all  these  points  your  letters  were  exphcit 
enough." 

"  And  I  also  told  you,"  continued  Louisa,  that  Jocelyn 
wrote  to  me  a  letter  full  of  love  and  tenderness  from  the 
French  capital,  stating  how  he  had  arrived  there  in  due 


342  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


course  and  how  he  had  fallen  in  with  Mary's  three  sisters 
at  Calais,  whom  he  had  escorted  to  Paris.  I  answered  his 
welcome  epistle;  and  he  wrote  to  me  another  as  affectionate 
as  the  first.  But  that  was  the  last  letter  which  I  received 
from  him,  and  then  his  correspondence  suddenly  ceased. 
This  was  at  the  end  of  September." 

And  throughout  the  month  of  October,"  observed 
Clara,  "  your  letters  to  me  were  mournful  indeed.  You 
seemed  to  fancy  that  your  lover  had  altogether  abandoned 
you  —  " 

"  No,  no,  dearest  Clara,"  exclaimed  Louisa,  blushing. 
"  I  did  not  then  suspect  his  fidelity;  but  I  was  afraid,  indeed, 
I  was  haunted  with  the  idea,  that  some  terrible  calamity 
had  overtaken  him." 

"  Well,  and  did  I  not  send  you  all  the  consolation  in  my 
power?  "  asked  Clara;  "  did  I  not  conjure  you  to  cherish 
hope  and  avoid  despair,  —  although  at  the  time  Heaven 
knows  that  I  was  utterly  ignorant  of  what  had  really  become 
of  your  lover." 

Had  it  not  been  for  your  soothing  and  consolatory 
letters,"  said  Louisa,  I  should  have  become  delirious 
with  anguish,  or  else  have  been  plunged  into  a  blank  despair. 
Well,  in  this  manner  did  the  month  of  October  pass  mourn- 
fully on;  and  just  as  it  was  drawing  to  a  close,  I  received  a 
letter,  dated  from  Paris,  and  stating  that  it  was  of  the 
highest  consequence  to  me  to  repair  thither  without  delay 
in  order  to  learn  certain  calamitous  truths  relative  to  Jocelyn 
Loftus.  That  letter,  which  bore  the  signature  of  '  An  Un- 
known Friend,'  desired  me  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  British 
consul  on  my  arrival  in  Paris,  and  he  would  give  me  further 
information.  Conceive,  my  dear  Clara,  the  state  of  mind 
into  which  this  letter  threw  me;  and,  oh,  you  were  not  nigh 
to  counsel  me.  I  felt  that  it  was  wrong  to  leave  our  poor  aunt 
to  the  care  of  a  comparative  stranger;  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
it  would  have  been  madness  or  perhaps  death  for  me  to 
have  remained  at  home,  a  prey  to  the  most  excruciating 
suspense." 

"  Poor  girl!  "  said  the  elder  sister,  hastily  wiping  her  eyes. 

No,  I  was  not  there  to  succour  you  with  my  advice,  al- 
though I  ought  to  have  been.  But  go  on,  Louisa,  go  on," 
she  repeated,  with  a  sort  of  nervous  impatience.  I  can 
understand  full  well  how  it  was  that  you  yielded  to  the 


THE  3ISTERS 


343 


impulse  of  your  feelings  and  resolved  upon  repairing  to 
Paris.  Under  the  circumstances  I  should  have  done  the 
same;  and  therefore  I  do  not  blame  you." 

Thank  you,  dear  sister,  thank  you  for  that  assurance," 
exclaimed  Louisa,  smiling  through  the  tears  which  had 
started  forth  upon  her  lashes  as  she  spoke  of  her  aunt.  "  Yes, 
it  is  as  you  have  said.  Driven  wild  with  fearful  misgivings, 
half-frenzied  and  delirious,  hurried  along,  as  it  were,  by  an 
overwhelming  torrent  of  feehng,  I  became  powerless  for 
anything  like  calm  deliberation.  Mary  Owen  promised  to 
bestow  the  most  unwearied  attention  upon  my  aunt,  and  to 
take  my  place  in  all  tender  ministrations  toward  her.  I 
knew  that  my  young  friend  was  kind-hearted,  affectionate, 
and  sincere,  and  I  entertained  not  the  slightest  apprehension 
that  our  afflicted  relation  would  experience  neglect  at  her 
hands.  Thus,  after  a  few  very  brief  preparations,  m}'- 
departure  was  taken  hurriedly;  and  without  any  adventure 
worth  relating,  I  arrived  safely  in  Paris.  Immediately  on 
reaching  the  French  capital,  I  repaired  to  the  British  consul; 
and  when  I  mentioned  my  name,  he  treated  me  with  a  kind- 
ness of  manner  so  fully  reassuring  and  even  paternal  that 
I  was  struck  with  the  idea  that  he  himself  must  be  the  author 
of  the  letter  which  was  signed  by  an  unknown  friend.  But 
in  this  respect  I  was  speedily  undeceived;  for,  after  a  few 
observations  to  the  purport  that  an  excellent  and  kind- 
hearted  English  nobleman  was  really  the  author  of  that 
letter,  and  was  interesting  himself  in  my  behalf,  the  consul 
directed  me  to  a  hotel  close  at  hand,  where  I  was  to  inquire 
for  the  Marquis  of  Leveson.  You  may  well  understand,  my 
dear  Clara,  that  the  moment  this  name  struck  upon  my 
ears  it  carried  a  vague  and  unknown  terror  into  the  depths 
of  my  soul;  for  although  I  had  heard  but  little  of  this  noble- 
man from  the  lips  of  Mary  Owen,  yet  this  little  was  not  in 
his  favour." 

Here  we  must  pause  for  a  moment  to  remind  our  reader 
that  when  Jocelyn  had  introduced  Mary  Owen  to  the  cottage 
at  Canterbury,  he  had  carefully  forborne  from  mentioning 
to  Louisa  anything  beyond  the  mere  outline  of  the  atrocious 
conspiracy  that  was  afoot  against  the  Princess  of  Wales. 
Especially  did  he  avoid  alluding  to  the  infamous  means 
which  had  been  adopted  to  demoralize  the  minds  of  the 
fair  daughters  of  Mrs.  Owen;  and  Mary  herself,  with  a  proper 


344  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


feeling  of  delicacy,  never  subsequently  enlightened  Louisa 
in  that  respect.  Thus  the  reader  will  understand  that  when 
Louisa  heard  the  name  of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  mentioned 
by  the  British  consul,  she  knew  nothing  of  the  worst  phases 
of  his  character,  but  only  that  he  was  one  of  the  prince 
regent's  confederates  in  respect  to  the  conspiracy  against  the 
Princess  of  Wales.  These  circumstances  being  duly  borne 
in  mind,  it  will  be  the  more  easy  to  comprehend  the  ensuing 
details  of  Louisa  Stanley's  narrative. 

Yes,  on  hearing  that  name  of  Leveson,"  she  continued, 
after  a  brief  pause,  I  felt  that  it  was  indeed  probable  he 
might  know  something  of  Jocelyn  and  of  Jocelyn's  proceed- 
ing, since  his  lordship  was  so  intimately  connected  with  the 
machinations  and  designs  of  the  prince  and  so  well  acquainted 
with  the  Misses  Owen.  Therefore,  after  thanking  the  Brit- 
ish consul  for  his  kindness,  I  at  once  repaired  to  the  hotel 
which  he  had  named;  and  on  inquiring  for  the  Marquis  of 
Leveson,  I  was  introduced  to  his  presence.  If  you  have  ever 
seen  him,  Clara  —  " 

"  Yes,  —  I  —  I  think  I  must  have  seen  him,"  observed  the 
elder  sister,  with  a  slight  appearance  of  confusion.  "  But 
go  on.   What  were  you  about  to  say?  " 

I  was  on  the  point  of  observing  that  his  lordship  is  an 
elderly,  if  not  an  old  man,"  continued  Louisa,  and  his  age, 
added  to  the  paternal  kindness  with  which  he  received  me, 
naturally  inspired  me  with  confidence.  Besides,  I  was  too 
anxious  to  be  relieved  of  my  dreadful  suspense  relative  to 
Jocelyn  to  give  way  to  much  misgiving  on  my  own  account; 
and  as  he  doubtless  saw  by  my  looks  how  torturing  that  sus- 
pense was,  he  at  once  entered  on  the  painful  topic  alluded 
to  in  his  pseudonymous  letter.  After  a  suitable  preface,  he 
proceeded  with  every  appearance  of  gentleness  and  con- 
siderate caution  to  unfold  a  long  tale  of  charges  and  accusa- 
tions against  poor  Jocelyn.  Thus  at  his  very  first  words 
I  was  so  far  relieved  as  to  learn  that  the  object  of  my  affec- 
tions had  neither  sustained  personal  injury  nor  was  dead, 
between  which  calamities  my  frenzied  fancy  had  been  cruelly 
alternating.  But,  oh,  if  I  were  indeed  reheved  from  that 
poignant  suspense  and  excruciating  alarm,  it  was  only  to 
hear  sufficient  to  prove,  as  I  then  thought,  that  henceforth 
Jocelyn  was  unworthy  of  the  love  which  I  had  bestowed 
upon  him.    Nevertheless  I  could  not,  I  would  not,  I  dared 


THE  SISTERS 


345 


not,  put  implicit  faith  in  the  bare  word  of  the  Marquis  of 
Leveson,  without  corroboration  and  without  proof.  Nor 
did  he  for  a  moment  appear  to  beheve  that  I  should  rest 
satisfied  with  mere  statements  unsupported  by  evidence. 
He  assured  me  that  his  only  aim  was  to  save  me  from  becom- 
ing the  victim  of  an  adventurer,  and  that  his  conduct  toward 
me  was  inspired  by  the  feeUngs  which  a  father  might  cherish 
toward  a  daughter.  In  a  word,  my  dear  Clara,  he  spoke 
so  kindly,  so  reasonably,  and  so  conscientiously,  to  all 
appearance,  and  then,  too,  I  was  so  very,  very  unhappy,  so 
lonely,  and  so  much  in  want  of  a  friend  and  adviser,  that  I 
readily  promised  to  be  guided  by  his  counsel.  He  bade  me 
remain  at  the  hotel,  assigning  me  to  the  care  of  the  land- 
lady and  her  daughters,  who  were  worthy  people,  and  seeing 
that  I  was  unhappy,  did  their  best  to  console  me  in  my 
affliction.  To  be  brief,  the  marquis  took  me  late  that  same 
night  in  his  carriage  to  the  prefecture  of  police;  and  there, 
as  it  appeared  to  me,  I  received  the  fullest,  the  cruellest,  and, 
oh,  the  most  fatal  confirmation  of  all  that  his  lordship  had 
previously  told  me." 

Louisa  Stanley  now  related  to  her  sister  the  details  of  all 
that  she  had  heard  or  seen  at  the  prefecture  of  pohce,  and 
which  are  already  well  known  to  the  reader. 

My  dearest  girl,"  said  Clara,  I  have  already  told  you 
that  your  intended  husband  does  really  bear  a  false  name, 
but  that  he  has  assumed  it  through  no  dishonourable  motives. 
Therefore,  the  entry  in  the  prefect's  Black  Book  is  virtually 
nothing  more  or  less  than  a  record  of  a  base  pretext  for  a 
most  arbitrary  arrest.  That  the  prefect  should  have  repeated 
to  you  the  calumnies  previously  levelled  against  Jocelyn 
by  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  can  be  explained  either  by  sup- 
posing the  French  functionary  to  be  as  vile  as  the  English 
nobleman  himself,  or  else  to  have  been  easily  misled  and 
deceived  by  that  nobleman.  Then,  with  regard  to  the  third 
incident  which  appeared  to  you  a  corroborative  proof  of 
Jocelyn's  perfidy,  namely,  the  occurrences  of  the  prison- 
chambers,  all  this  doubtless  arose  from  circumstances  pur- 
posely arranged  and  cunningly  combined  at  a  special  mo- 
ment to  produce  particular  effects.  There  was  an  aperture, 
you  say,  in  the  wall  between  two  chambers,  and  you  were 
led  to  believe  that  this  aperture  had  been  formed  as  a  means 
of  communication  and  intercourse  between  Jocelyn  and 


346  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


the  female  captive  who  was  his  neighbour.  But,  ah!  Louisa, 
did  you  pause  to  ascertain  that  Jocelyn  was  a  guilty  wretch 
instead  of  a  victim,  the  creator  of  the  circumstances  in  which 
you  found  him  placed  or  the  victim  of  them?  In  fine,  had 
he  invited  that  female  to  his  chamber,  or  had  she  forced 
herself  upon  him?  You  tell  me  that  when  you  heard  him 
speak  within  that  second  chamber  whence  the  light  streamed 
through  the  aperture,  his  words  were  an  ejaculation  to  the 
effect  that  he  should  be  driven  mad.  But  was  that  the  cry 
of  love  or  of  despair?  Was  that  the  language  of  a  passion 
traitorous  to  you,  or  of  a  bitter  persecution  endured  by  him- 
self? And  then,  that  response  from  the  female  to  the  effect 
that  she  loved  him  and  that  he  knew  she  thus  loved  him,  — 
might  it  not  have  been  addressed  to  him  as  a  reproach  and 
a  remonstrance  for  coldness,  aversion,  or  inaccessibihty  on 
his  part?  Depend  upon  it,  Louisa,  as  I  ere  now  said,  Jocelyn 
will  give,  when  you  meet  again,  the  fullest  and  most  satis- 
factory explanations  upon  all  these  points." 

Yes,  dearest  Clara,"  answered  Louisa,  in  a  voice  tremu- 
lous with  emotion,  I  indeed  see  all  those  incidents  in  a 
new  light.  But  what  could  I  think  of  them  at  the  time? 
Oh,  I  was  stricken  down  as  if  the  hand  of  death  had  suddenly 
been  laid  upon  me;  I  was  borne  away  from  the  spot,  and 
for  several  days  I  remained  in  a  state  of  delirium  at  the  hotel. 
But  the  kindest  attentions  were  shown  me  by  the  landlady, 
her  daughters,  and  the  medical  attendant;  and  thus,  when 
my  mind  began  to  emerge  from  the  wild  confusion  of  its 
ideas,  I  found  myself  the  object  of  the  tenderest  solace  and 
sympathy.  I  wished  to  hasten  back  to  England,  to  return 
home;  but  the  marquis  represented  to  me  the  impossibiUty 
of  my  travelling  in  the  nervous  and  excited  condition  that 
I  then  was,  and  this  representation  was  warmly  seconded 
by  the  worthy  females  to  whose  care  I  was  assigned.  Weak 
as  I  was  in  body  and  attenuated  as  I  felt  in  mind,  I  was 
overpersuaded  without  much  difficulty.  And  I  have 
already  told  you,  Clara,  how  vain  were  the  attempts  I  made 
to  commit  my  woes  to  paper  and  correspond  with  you. 
Thus  did  day  after  day  pass;  and  all  this  while  the  conduct 
of  the  marquis  was  so  kind,  so  respectful,  and  at  the  same 
time  so  fatherly,  that  I  felt  assured  his  character  must  either 
have  been  mistaken  or  unjustly  treated  by  Mary  Owen. 
To  be  brief,  I  experienced  the  deepest  gratitude  toward 


THE  SISTERS 


347 


his  lordship;  I  felt  that  I  was  indebted  to  him  for  being 
rescued  from  the  snares  and  influences  of  an  adventurer. 
But,  oh,  while  thus  I  thought  in  a  strain  so  depreciatory 
of  poor  Jocelyn,  the  scalding  tears  flowed  down  my  cheeks 
and  I  felt  as  if  my  heart  would  burst.   It  was  a  reUef  for  me 
to  quit  Paris,  that  place  which  appeared  to  be  the  scene  of 
the  fatal  rock  on  which  all  my  fondest  hopes  were  ship- 
wrecked.   The  marquis,  with  a  deUcacy  which  entirely 
confirmed  the  good  opinion  I  had  recently  been  forming 
of  him,  arranged  that  the  landlady's  eldest  daughter  should 
accompany  us  as  far  as  Dover,  so  that  I  might  not  be  left 
without  female  society  during  the  journey.    On  arriving 
at  Dover,  this  young  Frenchwoman  left  us  to  return  to  Paris, 
hberally  rewarded  by  the  marquis.    Up  to  this  moment, 
Clara,  the  idea  of  proceeding  to  London  had  never  entered 
my  mind.   But  as  I  was  journeying  with  the  marquis  from 
Dover  to  Canterbury,  he  represented  to  me  the  propriety 
and  even  the  necessity  of  consulting  my  sister,  —  yourself, 
beloved  Clara,  —  and  pouring  my  sorrows  into  her  bosom 
after  all  that  had  occurred.    Ah!  need  I  tell  you,  need  I 
assure  you  that  it  required  but  little  argument  to  persuade 
me  in  the  adoption  of  this  course?   I  nevertheless  insisted 
upon  halting  at  Canterbury  to  assure  myself  that  our 
afflicted  aunt  was  properly  cared  for.    '  Mary  Owen,'  then 
said  the  marquis,  '  is  deeply  prejudiced  against  me,  and 
fancies  that  I  am  engaged  in  a  conspiracy  which  has  no 
other  existence  than  in  her  own  imagination.    She  will 
therefore  beUeve,  if  you  tell  her  you  are  travelling  with  me, 
that  I  shall  snatch  her  away  from  her  present  retreat  and 
bear  her  back  to  her  mother.   But  as  I  do  not  wish  to  inter- 
fere with  the  poor  girl,  it  will  be  needless  for  you  to  create 
any  alarm  in  her  mind.    Would  it  not,  then,  be  prudent 
to  forbear  from  mentioning  my  name  to  her  at  all?  '  I 
yielded  to  these  representations,  which  appeared  to  me  so 
natural  at  the  moment;   and,  besides,  my  mind  was  so 
attenuated  that  I  really  had  neither  the  courage  nor  the 
power  to  think  for  myself,  and  was  therefore  easily  led  to 
follow  any  advice  that  was  given  to  me  at  the  moment  by 
one  whom  I  deemed  a  friend.    I  went  to  the  cottage;  I 
learned  privately  from  the  faithful  servant-girl  that  Mary 
Owen  had  filled  my  place  with  the  utmost  tenderness  toward 
my  afflicted  aunt,  and  Mary  Owen  herself  gave  me  the 


348  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


assurance  that  she  had  neglected  nothing  in  the  fulfilment 
of  the  duty  entrusted  to  her.  Few  and  rapid  were  the  words 
that  passed  between  us.  I  told  her  that  Jocelyn  was  faithless 
to  me,  and  a  mere  adventurer  in  society.  I  told  her  also 
that  her  sisters  had  proceeded  to  join  the  Princess  of  Wales 
in  Italy;  and  I  assured  her  that  I  had  the  best  possible  means 
for  believing  that  the  conspiracy  against  that  august  lady 
had  in  reality  no  actual  existence.  Mary  Owen  was  aston- 
ished at  this  declaration  on  my  part;  she  shook  her  head 
gloomily,  but  evidently  was  at  a  loss  what  to  think.  I  told 
her  to  suspend  all  opinion  until  my  return  from  London, 
when  I  would  enter  into  the  fullest  and  minutest  details. 
Then,  after  this  flying  visit  to  the  cottage  —  a  visit  which 
lasted  for  a  brief  half-hour  —  I  returned  to  the  Fountain 
Hotel,  where  the  Marquis  of  Leveson's  carriage  had  stopped. 
Our  journey  was  then  pursued  toward  London,  where  we 
arrived  last  evening." 

Louisa  Stanley  now  proceeded  to  relate  the  treatment 
she  had  experienced  at  Leveson  House,  —  how  the  marquis 
and  Ernestina  had  suddenly  thrown  off  the  mask,  and  how 
the  seasonable  and  sudden  arrival  of  Sir  Douglas  Hunting- 
don had  saved  her  from  the  treachery  and  outrage  which  the 
profligate  nobleman  had  dared  to  contemplate.  The  elder 
sister  was  more  than  indignant,  she  was  positively  enraged 
at  hearing  this  recital  of  the  crowning  dangers  through  which 
Louisa  had  that  morning  passed,  and  she  murmured  to 
herself,  "  Lord  Leveson  shall  repent  of  this  black  atrocity! 

"  And  now,  dearest  Clara,"  said  Louisa,  throwing  her 
arms  around  her  sister's  neck,  and  gazing  upon  her  with 
all  her  young  heart's  innocent  and  enthusiastic  devotion, 
"  tell  me,  dearest  Clara,  are  you  yourself  happy?  Do  you 
hke  the  gaiety  and  bustle  of  the  metropolis,  or  do  you  long  to 
return  to  the  peaceful  retreat  at  Canterbury?  Tell  me,  in 
fine,  all,  everything  that  regards  you." 

"  Yes,  dearest  Louisa,"  answered  Clara,  embracing  her 
fondly,  I  will  tell  you  everything,  and  you  will  perceive 
that  I  have  all  possible  reason  to  be  happy.  In  fact,  dearest 
Louisa,  if  I  have  kept  until  some  such  occasion  as  this,  — 
I  mean,  until  we  should  thus  meet  and  I  could  speak  to  you 
concerning  many,  many  things  which  I  could  not  so  well 
have  committed  to  paper,  —  if  I  have  kept  all  this  till  now, 
I  say,  you  will  not  be  angry." 


THE  SISTERS 


349 


"  Ah!  my  dearest  sister,  you  have  made  me  so  happy/' 
cried  Louisa,  by  your  assurances  relative  to  Jocelyn,  that 
I  am  in  a  humour  to  behold  everything  in  this  world  in  the 
brightest  and  gayest  colours.  Yes,  a  roseate  atmosphere  now 
appears  to  surround  me,  displacing  the  murky  mist  in  which 
I  have  been  hving,  breathing,  moving,  and  also  losing 
myself,  as  it  were,  for  the  last  fortnight.  Tell  me,  then,  that 
you  are  happy,  dearest  Clara;  and  that  assurance,  coming 
from  your  lips,  will  enhance,  oh,  unspeakably  enhance,  the 
joy  which  I  myself  now  feel.  Yes,  and  I  shall  be  the  more 
happy,  too,  if  it  be  possible,  because  such  assurance  will 
convince  me  that  you,  my  dearest  sister,  have  not  experi- 
enced the  blighting,  withering  influence  of  that  atmosphere 
of  fashion  in  which  you  have  been  moving." 

What  mean  you,  Louisa?  "  asked  Clara,  gazing  upon 
her  sister  with  so  singular  an  expression  that  had  the  young 
maiden  been  more  experienced  in  the  world's  ways,  and  more 
deeply  read  in  the  science  of  the  human  heart,  she  would 
immediately  have  felt  uneasy,  perhaps  dismayed,  by  that 
look  which  Clara  fixed  upon  her. 

I  mean,"  responded  the  artless,  innocent,  unsuspecting 
girl,  that  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart  drew  ere  now  such  a 
shocking  picture  of  fashionable  life  that  she  made  me 
shudder." 

"  Ah!  what  did  she  tell  you?  "  inquired  Clara. 
"  Oh,  it  was  indeed  very  shocking,"  answered  Louisa, 
and  filled  me  with  a  sudden  aversion  for  what  is  called 
the  fashionable  world.    Lady  Ernestina  spoke  to  me  of 
a  certain  celebrated  beauty  —  I  forget  her  name  at  this 
moment  —  " 

"  Try  and  remember,"  said  Clara,  throwing  her  arm  in 
such  a  way  around  Louisa's  neck  that  she  drew  the  young 
virgin's  beauteous  head  down  upon  her  own  fine  bust. 

Oh,  I  recollect  now,"  cried  Louisa;  "  it  was  Venetia 
Trelawney." 

^'  Ah!  "  said  Clara.  And  what  did  Lady  Ernestina  tell 
you  about  her?  " 

That  she  was  as  depraved  as  she  was  beautiful,"  replied 
Louisa,  whose  cheek  still  remained  pillowed  against  Clara's 
bosom.  "  But  doubtless  you  are  acquainted  with  every- 
thing regarding  this  Venetia,  since  her  story  appears  to  be 
the  topic  of  the  fashionable  world.    Only  conceive  such 


350  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


dreadful  depravity  as  to  marry  a  young,  handsome,  and 
clever  man,  and  immediately  after  the  honeymoon  lend  a 
willing  ear  to  the  improper  overtures  of  that  wicked,  wicked 
man  the  prince  regent!  Oh,  Clara,  if  you  ever  meet  this 
Venetia,  —  or  Lady  Sackville,  as  I  believe  she  is  now  called, 
—  I  do  sincerely  hope  you  will  never  speak  to  her.  It  posi- 
tively makes  my  cheeks  glow  with  indignation  and  also  with 
shame  when  I  think  that  the  entire  sex  to  some  extent  shares 
in  the  infamy  of  such  creatures.  Ah!  and  your  cheeks  glow 
also,  my  beloved  Clara,"  exclaimed  the  beauteous  girl, 
suddenly  raising  her  head  and  observing  the  deep  carnation 
which  overspread  her  sister's  countenance.  "  Oh,  I  was 
well  aware  that  your  noble  heart  would  feel  as  indignant 
and  also  as  humihated  as  I,  to  think  that  the  name  of  woman 
should  be  disgraced  by  such  a  shameless  profligate  as  that 
Venetia." 

Let  us  talk  no  more  of  this,"  said  Clara,  the  deep  car- 
nation hue  suddenly  sweeping  away  from  her  cheeks  and 
leaving  them  very  pale.  "  Yes,  yes,  the  atmosphere  of 
London  is  indeed  unfitted  for  a  flower  of  innocence  and 
purity  such  as  thou,  and  therefore  must  we  part  soon,  dear 
sister,  and  you  must  lose  no  time  in  returning  to  Canterbury. 
Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon's  carriage  will  take  you  to  Black- 
heath  or  Dartford,  where  you  can  obtain  a  post-chaise; 
and  as  it  is  now  but  two  o'clock,  you  will  reach  Canterbury 
to-night  ere  it  be  very  late." 

"  You  seem,  dear  Clara,  as  if  you  wished  to  hurry  me 
suddenly  away?  "  said  Louisa,  the  tears  roUing  down  her 
cheeks. 

No,  do  not  think  me  unkind,  my  sweet  sister,"  returned 
Clara;  but  I  feel  that  London  is  not  fitted  for  you.  Oh, 
no,  it  is  not  fitted  for  you  —  and  God  in  His  mercy  forbid 
that  it  ever  should  be,"  added  Clara,  with  a  strong  emphasis. 

"  Well,  dear  sister,"  observed  the  younger  girl,  as  she 
wiped  away  her  tears,  "  I  will  do  as  you  desire.  But  recol- 
lect that  you  have  not  as  yet  told  me  one  word  relative  to 
yourself;  and  you  ere  now  led  me  to  beUeve  that  you  had 
many  things  to  tell  me,  —  yes,  even  secrets,  which  you  had 
not  chosen  to  commit  to  paper,  but  for  which  you  awaited 
the  opportunity  of  our  meeting." 

Oh,  I  have  nothing  to  tell  you  of  such  great  importance 
as  you  seem  to  imagine,"  said  Clara,  with  a  smile,  which  did 


r, 


THE  SISTERS  351 

not,  however,  appear  to  take  its  inspiration  from  the  full 
glow  of  a  heart's  unalloyed  happiness.  "  You  know  that 
fond,  loving,  and  affectionate  sisters  such  as  we  are  always 
have  a  hundred  Uttle  trifles  and  sweet  nothings  to  tell  each 
other,  and  which  they  treasure  up  for  the  day  of  meeting." 

"  Then  you  have  really  nothing  of  importance  to  tell  me?  " 
said  Louisa,  with  a  tone  and  look  of  disappointment.  "  I 
thought  you  were  perhaps  going  to  reveal  to  me  some  matters 
indicative  of  your  own  complete  and  consummate  happi- 
ness." 

"  No  —  that  is  to  say  —  I  mean  yes,"  ejaculated  Clara, 
somewhat  falteringly;  then,  in  a  hurried  tone,  she  added, 
"  But  I  have  already  told  you,  by  the  bye,  in  my  letters, 
that  my  dear  kind  friends,  the  Beckfords,  have  adopted  me 
as  their  daughter,  and  intend  to  leave  me  all  their 
fortune." 

Yes,  you  have  already  told  me  this,"  said  Louisa,  and 
I  have  congratulated  you  in  return;  for  of  course  you  are 
well  aware,  Clara,  that  your  happiness  is  as  dear  to  me  as 
my  own,  or  even  dearer,  for  I  would  endure  anything  sooner 
than  be  compelled  to  hear  that  you  were  unhappy." 

^'  Dear  Louisa,  dear,  dear  girl,"  cried  Clara,  embracing 
her  fervidly  and  fondly;  "  and  be  assured,  oh,  be  assured 
that  I  entertain  precisely  the  same  feeling  for  you.  But  we 
must  now  part,  Louisa,  we  must  indeed;  for  it  is  time  that 
you  should  return  homeward,  and  I  am  also  compelled  to 
leave  town  again  immediately  to  rejoin  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beck- 
ford,  otherwise  I  would  accompany  you  part  of  the  distance. 
But  I  repeat,  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  will  escort  you  in  his 
carriage  as  far  as  Blackheath,  or  perhaps  Dartford,  where  he 
will  see  you  safe  in  a  post-chaise." 

The  sisters  now  separated  with  many  reiterated  embraces, 
and  also  with  many,  many  tears;  and  once  more  was  Louisa 
consigned  to  the  care  of  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon.  We 
need  only  add  that  the  baronet  fulfilled  his  mission  with 
delicacy  and  fidelity.  He  escorted  her  to  Dartford,  where 
he  procured  a  post-chaise  for  her  accommodation;  and  on 
parting  from  the  lovely  girl  he  experienced  a  sensation  of 
ineffable  joy  to  think  that  he  had  never  once  regarded  her 
otherwise  than  with  the  utmost  respect.  'Tis  said  that  the 
Hon  crouches  at  the  feet  of  a  spotless  maiden;  and  assuredly 
the  gay  libertine,  the  lion  of  human  society,  acknowledged  the 


352  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


power  of  virtue  and  the  empire  of  innocence  on  the  present 
occasion. 

Louisa  reached  home  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock  at 
night,  without  experiencing  any  further  adventure  worthy- 
recording;  but  it  was  far  otherwise  with  Sir  Douglas  Hunt- 
ingdon, as  will  appear  in  the  following  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XXX 


shooter's  hill 

Having  acquitted  himself  thus  honourably  of  the  duty 
confided  to  him,  the  baronet  remained  to  dine  at  the  prin- 
cipal hotel  at  Dartford;  and  as  his  horses  had  done  good 
service  during  the  day,  they  required  ample  leisure  for  bait 
and  rest.  He  did  not  therefore  hurry  himself  as  to  the  hour 
of  departure;  and,  moreover,  he  fell  in  with  agreeable  com- 
pany in  the  coffee-room  of  the  tavern.  For  there  had  been 
a  steeplechase  in  the  neighbourhood  in  the  morning;  and 
several  sporting  characters  who  had  taken  part  in  the 
barbarian  amusement  "  were  now  winding  up  the  day's 
diversions  with  a  good  dinner  and  a  jovial  glass  at  the  hotel. 
The  baronet,  who  Uked  such  company  and  loved  his  bottle 
also,  was  therefore  induced  to  remain  with  the  convivialists 
until  a  somewhat  late  hour;  indeed,  it  was  considerably  past 
ten  o'clock  when  he  ordered  his  carriage  to  be  got  ready, 
and  another  half-hour  elapsed  ere  he  had  finished  his  wine, 
paid  his  bill,  and  set  out  on  the  journey  homeward. 

The  footman  who  was  in  attendance  on  the  vehicle  sat 
next  the  coachman  on  the  box;  and  as  the  night  was  very 
dark,  the  carriage-lamps  had  been  Ughted.  But  a  dense 
mist,  arising  from  the  Thames,  was  borne  by  a  sluggish 
northerly  breeze  over  the  southern  bank  of  the  river,  en- 
veloping the  main  road  which  the  equipage  was  pursuing. 
The  lamps  accordingly  shone  as  dimly  as  if  through  the 
dullest  ground  glass;  and  the  feeble  glimmering  thus  thrown 
forth  was  barely  sufficient  to  enable  the  coachman  to  avoid 
the  hedges,  banks,  ditches,  or  fences  which  by  turns  skirted 
the  road. 

The  carriage  accordingly  proceeded  at  a  leisurely  pace; 
and  Sir  Douglas  sank  into  a  sound  sleep  under  the  influence 

363 


354  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


of  the  liquor  he  had  imbibed  at  Dartford.  It  was  close  upon 
midnight  when  the  equipage  began  the  long,  tedious,  and 
gloomy  ascent  of  Shooter's  Hill,  that  spot  which,  until  a 
very  recent  period,  was  so  memorable  for  the  exploits  of 
highwaymen.  Still  the  baronet  dozed  on  upon  the  com- 
fortable cushions  of  the  carriage;  but  all  in  a  moment  he 
was  startled  from  his  sleep  by  the  abrupt  stoppage  of  the 
vehicle,  followed  by  the  instantaneous  plunging  of  the 
horses,  together  with  several  rough  voices  speaking  menac- 
ingly. 

Letting  down  the  window,  the  baronet  became  aware  that 
his  carriage  was  attacked  by  robbers;  and  having  no 
weapons  of  any  kind  with  him,  he  was  unable  to  offer  the 
slightest  resistance.  Besides  which,  the  night  was  of  such 
impenetrable  gloom  that  he  could  literally  see  nothing  of 
what  was  going  on;  but  the  voices  which  he  heard  enabled 
him  to  comprehend  in  a  moment  that  his  servants  were 
overpowered,  and  that  the  ruffians  were  menacing  them 
with  death  if  they  dared  make  any  further  noise. 

Thus  far  all  that  had  happened  since  the  baronet  was 
startled  from  his  nap  was  the  work  of  a  few  seconds;  and 
putting  forth  his  hand,  he  was  about  to  open  the  door  when 
a  couple  of  fellows  came  up  to  the  window.  One  of  them 
immediately  seized  the  carriage-lamp  on  that  side,  and 
thrust  it  into  the  vehicle,  turning  it  in  such  a  way  that  its 
light  fell  full  upon  the  baronet's  countenance. 

"  He's  a  good-natured-looking  feller,"  said  one,  in  a  gruff 
voice;  "  and  so  I  suppose  he'll  stand  summut  handsome." 

"  To  be  sure  he  will,  Bob,"  answered  the  other  ruffian. 
"  Now,  sir,"  he  continued,  addressing  himself  to  Sir  Douglas, 
"  your  watch,  your  rings,  your  diamond  breast-pin,  and,  as 
a  matter  of  course,  your  purse.  If  not  by  fair  means,  we 
will  have  them  by  foul,"  and  he  placed  a  double-barrelled 
pistol  so  close  to  the  baronet's  forehead  as  to  cause  him  to 
tremble  in  spite  of  himself. 

"  Now,  then,  be  quick,  you  sir,"  said  the  other  ruffian,  who 
had  been  addressed  as  Bob.  "  Don't  frighten  the  genelman 
out  of  his  senses,  Buttoner." 

"  Well,  I  don't  want  to,  if  so  be  he'll  only  make  haste," 
observed  the  individual  thus  addressed,  as  he  withdrew  the 
pistol  from  the  close  vicinage  of  the  baronet's  counte- 
nance. 


SHOOTER'S  HILL 


355 


Sir  Douglas,  perceiving  that  resistance  was  vain,  never- 
theless hoped  that  if  he  could  only  keep  the  villains  in 
parley,  succour  might  arrive. 

Now,  my  good  fellows,"  he  accordingly  said,  surveying 
their  countenances  by  the  dim  light  of  the  carriage-lamp, 
and  observing  that  one  was  a  villainous-looking  man  with 
a  black  patch  over  the  eye,  and  that  the  other,  who  was 
called  the  Buttoner,  was  a  jovial,  well-favoured  person, 

now,  my  good  fellows,  I  am  quite  ready  to  surrender  up 
everything  I  have  about  me,  if  you  hke;  but  as  I  value  my 
watch  and  my  rings,  I  will  pay  you  a  fairer  price  for  their 
ransom  than  you  will  get  for  them  if  you  take  them  from 
me." 

Well,  let's  first  look  at  the  purse,"  said  Bob,  the  fellow 
with  the  black  patch  over  his  eye,  and  who  was  no  other  than 
the  Durrynacker  to  whom  the  reader  was  introduced  at  Ben- 
cuU's  dark  crib. 

The  baronet  accordingly  drew  forth  his  purse,  which  was 
found  to  contain  something  more  than  twelve  guineas. 

"  Well,  this  here  ain't  no  great  shakes,"  cried  the  Buttoner. 
"  I  say,  Ben,"  he  exclaimed,  raising  his  voice  and  turning 
his  head  away  from  the  window,  "  the  genelman  proposes 
a  compromise  for  the  yack,  the  fawneys,  and  so  on." 

"  Well,  let  it  be  so,"  said  a  hoarse,  thick  voice  in  reply; 
and  this  indeed  was  none  other  than  Mr.  Bencull  speaking, 
and  who  was  mounting  guard  on  the  box  over  the  coachman 
and  footman. 

Wery  good,"  said  the  Buttoner.  "  Now,  sir,  please  to 
step  down,"  and  thus  speaking,  he  opened  the  door  of  the 
carriage  and  lowered  the  steps. 

But  where  am  I  to  go?  "  demanded  the  baronet. 

Never  do  you  mind,"  answered  the  Buttoner;  "  come 
along  with  us,  that's  all." 

"  Oh,  if  it  be  necessary  to  go  any  distance,  I  would  sooner 
give  up  my  personal  property  at  once,"  said  the  baronet, 
who  had  thus  involved  himself  in  a  dilemma  which  he  little 
anticipated  when  proposing  the  compromise;  "  or  else,  can 
I  not  write  you  a  cheque  upon  my  banker  on  a  leaf  torn 
out  of  my  pocketbook?  " 

No,  no,  sir,  we  don't  do  business  in  that  way,"  responded 
the  Buttoner,  sharply.  You  was  the  first  to  propose  the 
compromise,  and  therefore  we'll  stick  to  it.   Now  then,  how 


356  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


is  it  to  be?  "  he  demanded,  again  appealing  to  his  confederate 
on  the  box. 

Oh,  let  your  young  woman  manage  it,"  replied  Bencull. 

''Be  it  so,"  said  the  Butt  oner;  then  addressing  himself 
in  hasty  and  imperious  terms  to  the  baronet,  he  continued: 
"  Now,  sir,  you  will  give  your  servants  orders  to  pay  a 
hundred  guineas  to  the  bearer  of  a  letter  from  you  to  that 
effect  to-morrow  morning,  and  you  will  tell  them  that  if  so 
be  the  young  woman  doesn't  come  back  with  the  money 
by  one  o'clock  to-morrow  afternoon,  we  shall  take  it  for 
granted  that  there's  been  foul  play  and  that  she's  been  took 
into  custody;  so  that  without  more  ado  we  shall  draw  a 
knife  across  your  throat.    Do  you  understand,  sir?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  perfectly  well,"  replied  the  baronet,  uncom- 
monly annoyed  at  the  turn  the  adventure  was  taking,  and 
inwardly  cursing  himself  for  not  having  surrendered  up  his 
jewelry  without  the  suggestion  of  a  compromise.  "  But  you 
surely  don't  intend  to  hold  me  as  a  hostage  until  to-morrow 
afternoon?  "  he  said,  in  a  tone  that  betrayed  his  vexation. 

"  By  jingo,  but  we  do,  though,"  exclaimed  the  Buttoner. 
''  So  no  more  palaver,  but  give  your  orders  to  your  servants, 
and  let  the  carriage  depart." 

"  Well,  since  there  is  no  help  for  it,  be  it  as  you  say," 
observed  the  baronet,  with  a  philosophical  resignation  to 
an  adventure  which,  after  all,  threatened  to  be  more  incon- 
venient than  perilous.  Then,  addressing  himself  to  the 
footman,  he  said,  *'  James,  you  have  heard  what  has  taken 
place,  and  you  will  tell  the  housekeeper  to  pay  the  hundred 
guineas  to  any  person  who  shall  present  a  letter  from  me 
to-morrow  morning  to  that  effect.  You  will  likewise  tell 
Mrs.  Baines  that  the  person  presenting  such  letter  is  to 
receive  no  molestation  nor  hindrance." 

The  footman  promised  a  faithful  attention  to  his  master's 
orders;  whereupon  Bencull  relieved  that  lackey  and  the 
coachman  from  the  terrors  of  his  presence  on  the  box  and 
the  imminence  of  his  pistols,  and  the  instant  he  alighted 
the  carriage  drove  rapidly  away. 

The  whole  of  this  scene  did  not  occupy  above  five  minutes, 
the  colloquy  which  has  taken  us  so  long  to  record  having 
passed  with  all  the  haste  and  hurry  of  the  accompanying 
excitement. 

And  now,  while  the  carriage  was  proceeding  on  its  course, 


SHOOTER'S  HILL 


357 


with  the  coachman  and  lackey  congratulating  themselves 
on  their  escape,  the  baronet  was  seized  upon  by  the  three 
ruffians  and  hurried  into  the  thicket  skirting  that  side  of 
the  road  which  was  farthest  from  the  Thames.  Through 
the  deep,  impenetrable  darkness  did  the  robbers  conduct 
their  captive,  to  whom  it  was  evident,  by  the  rapid  and 
unhesitating  pace  at  which  they  advanced,  that  they  were 
perfectly  familiar  with  the  locality.  Such  indeed  was  the 
case;  for  they  were  pursuing  a  beaten  pathway  through 
the  wood,  and  in  which  they  were  enabled  to  keep  with 
precision,  inasmuch  as  the  sinking  of  their  feet  on  the 
damp  ground  on  either  side  at  once  made  them  aware  when 
there  was  the  slightest  divergence  from  that  well-trodden 
path. 

For  upwards  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour  did  they  thus  proceed 
at  a  rapid  rate.  No  violence  was  offered  to  the  baronet; 
but  a  firm  grasp  was  kept  upon  him,  in  order  to  prevent 
his  escape.  Scarcely  a  word  was  spoken  as  they  thus 
proceeded  through  that  night  of  pitchy  gloom;  and  at  the 
expiration  of  the  interval  just  named,  a  dim  light  was 
observed  twinkling  a  little  ahead.  In  two  or  three  minutes 
the  party  halted  suddenly  at  the  door  of  what  appeared  to 
be  a  cottage,  or  hut,  and  whence  the  light  had  emanated. 

The  door  was  opened  by  another  ill-looking  rascal,  who, 
we  may  as  well  observe  at  once,  was  the  Mushroom  Faker, 
another  of  the  delectable  company  whose  acquaintance  our 
readers  have  made  at  Jacob's  Island. 

The  baronet  was  now  introduced  into  a  rude  and  dilapi- 
dated room,  furnished  with  one  or  two  benches  and  a  couple 
of  tables  made  of  the  roughest  materials.  The  entire  aspect 
of  the  place  was  of  the  most  wretched  and  cheerless  descrip- 
tion. On  one  table  stood  a  bottle,  a  glass,  a  plate,  and  a  huge 
knife  with  a  buckhorn  handle;  for  the  Mushroom  Faker 
had  only  just  concluded  his  supper  at  the  moment  when  his 
companions  arrived  with  their  captive. 

"  Sit  down,  sir,"  said  the  Buttoner,  and  make  yourself 
at  home.  I  suppose  there's  some  kind  of  lush  here,"  he 
continued,  taking  up  the  bottle  and  holding  it  against  the 
flame  of  a  tallow  candle  with  a  long  flaring  wick.  Yes, 
to  be  sure  there  is,"  and  filling  the  glass  with  brandy  he 
tossed  the  dram  down  his  throat.  Now,  sir,  pray  help 
yourself  to  this  here  lush,  and  I  can  promise  you'll  find  it 


358  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


excellent.  In  fact,  you  must  make  yourself  as  comfortable 
as  you  can,  while  I  go  and  see  what  my  young  woman  can  do 
toward  accommodating  you  for  the  night." 

The  baronet  made  no  reply,  but  threw  a  look  of  bitter 
annoyance  around  the  room,  and  of  disgust  upon  the  But- 
toner;  then  seating  himself  on  a  rough  stool  at  the  clumsy 
table,  he  once  more  endeavoured  to  soothe  his  annoyance 
and  resign  himself  to  the  temporary  inconveniences  of  his 
position. 

The  Buttoner  opened  a  small  door  and  ascended  a  narrow 
staircase,  which  creaked  and  groaned  beneath  his  heavy 
tread,  while  Bencull,  Bob  the  Durrynacker,  and  the  Mush- 
room Faker  sat  down  at  the  second  table  and  began  drinking 
as  fast  and  furiously  as  if  they  had  never  tasted  strong 
waters  before  in  their  hves.  It  was,  notwithstanding,  pretty 
evident  that  there  was  no  lack  of  the  alcohoUc  fluid  in  the 
hut,  as  indeed  the  numerous  bottles  which  appeared  on  the 
shelves  of  an  open  cupboard  satisfactorily  proved. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  Buttoner  came  down-stairs  again, 
and  presenting  a  sheet  of  paper,  writing  materials,  and 
seahng-wax  to  the  baronet,  he  said,  Now,  sir,  you'll 
please  to  draw  up  at  once  that  there  letter  which  is  to  be 
delivered  to  your  housekeeper,  Mrs.  Baines,  as  I  think  you 
called  her;  'cos  why,  my  young  woman  will  get  up  precious 
early  in  the  morning,  so  as  to  be  at  your  house  in  town, 
wherever  it  is,  by  eight  or  nine  o'clock." 

Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  immediately  proceeded  to  pen 
the  requisite  instructions  for  the  payment  of  the  hundred 
guineas  to  the  bearer;  and  having  affixed  his  signature  to 
the  letter,  he  was  about  to  seal  it  when  the  Buttoner  leaned 
over  his  shoulder,  observing  in  a  coarse  tone  of  familiarity, 

Beg  pardon,  sir,  but  I  must  see  what  you  have  wrote, 
if  you  please." 

"  By  all  means,"  observed  the  baronet,  scarcely  attempt- 
ing to  conceal  his  disgust.  "  But  if  you  did  not  mean  me 
to  close  the  letter,  why  did  you  bring  the  sealing-wax?  " 

I  fancied  you  would  rayther  seal  it,"  was  the  reply; 
"  so  that  when  delivered  at  your  door,  to-morrow  morning, 
it  won't  be  read  by  no  one  but  her  as  it  is  addressed  to. 
But  all  this  isn't  no  reason  why  I  shouldn't  see  aforehand 
what  the  letter  really  contains.  Howsumever,  it's  all  right, 
and  so  now  you  can  seal  it." 


SHOOTER^S  HILL 


359 


Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  accordingly  secured  the  letter; 
and  having  duly  addressed  it  to  Mrs.  Baines,  his  house- 
keeper in  London,  he  gave  it  into  the  hands  of  the  Buttoner. 
This  individual  once  more  hurried  up  the  narrow  rickety 
staircase,  at  the  top  of  which  was  a  bedroom,  if  a  place  with 
a  quantity  of  dirty  flock  scattered  upon  the  floor,  a  wretched 
coverlid,  a  rudely  constructed  table,  a  chipped  basin,  and 
a  cracked  ewer  deserves  such  an  appellation. 

In  this  wretched  apartment  Nell  Gibson  was  seated.  A 
bottle  of  spirits  and  a  glass  stood  upon  the  table;  and  as 
the  light  of  the  solitary  candle  played  flickeringly  upon  her 
countenance,  it  showed  that  her  features  were  slightly 
flushed  with  drinking.  Her  apparel  was  in  striking  contrast 
with  the  miserable  aspect  of  the  place.  She  wore  gold  ear- 
rings; a  silk  bodice,  fitting  close  to  her  shape,  displayed  the 
luxuriant  proportions  of  her  figure;  her  arms  were  bare  to 
the  shoulder,  and  the  short  skirts  of  her  dress  revealed  her 
well-formed  ankles  up  to  the  swell  of  the  leg.  A  handsome 
bonnet  and  scarf  lay  upon  the  bench  where  she  was  seated; 
and  when  the  Buttoner  reappeared  this  second  time  in  the 
chamber,  she  was  counting  a  few  guineas  which  she  had  taken 
from  a  new  silk  purse. 

We  have  already  informed  our  readers  that  there  had 
been  a  grand  steeplechaise  in  the  neighbourhood  that 
morning;  and  great  numbers  of  persons  had  been  attracted 
to  the  vicinage  of  Shooter's  Hill,  not  only  from  the  adjacent 
towns  of  Dartford,  Woolwich,  and  Greenwich,  but  also 
from  the  metropolis.  To  take  advantage  of  this  opportunity 
of  displaying  their  particular  genius  and  exercising  their 
craft,  Bencull,  the  Durrynacker,  the  Buttoner,  and  Nell 
Gibson  had  appeared  upon  the  scene;  while  the  Hangman, 
Sally  Melmoth,  and  Jack  the  Foundling  had  likewise  paid 
a  visit  to  the  same  neighbourhood  and  for  the  same  purpose. 
Of  course  the  two  parties  had  thus  met  in  pursuance  of 
previous  arrangement;  but  we  shall  not  pause  to  describe 
the  various  ways  in  which  all  these  worthies,  male  and 
female,  turned  the  proceedings  of  the  day  and  the  presence 
of  a  large  concourse  of  people  to  their  own  special  advantage. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  they  managed  to  reap  a  very  tolerable 
harvest;  and  when  evening  came  the  two  parties  took  a 
very  friendly  leave  of  each  other.  On  the  one  hand,  Daniel 
Cofiin,  Sally  Melmoth,  and  Jack  the  Foundling  repaired  to 


360  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


a  small,  lonely  but  convenient  ale-house  at  a  short  distance 
amongst  the  fields,  to  take  up  their  quarters  till  morning; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  Bencull,  the  Buttoner,  the  Durry- 
nacker,  and  Nell  Gibson  had  already  arranged  to  pass  the 
night  at  the  rude  hut  in  the  immediate  vicinage  of  Shooter's 
Hill. 

Now  this  hut  belonged  to  no  less  a  personage  than  the 
Mushroom  Faker.  The  reader  will  scarcely  require  to  be 
told  that  it  was  a  very  convenient  haunt  for  such  per- 
sonages as  those  just  named;  and  accordingly,  when  business 
was  slack  at  Jacob's  Island,  they  often  sought  the  rude 
hut  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  what  they  could  pick  up  by 
nights  on  Shooter's  Hill.  It  was  also  a  retreat  for  any 
member  of  the  fraternity  whom  circumstances  compelled 
to  keep  out  of  the  way  "  for  awhile;  and  suspicion  was 
averted  from  the  place  by  the  maintenance  of  an  air  of  the 
most  abject  poverty.  The  gamekeepers  of  the  district 
fancied  that  it  was  occupied  only  by  a  poor  inoffensive 
umbrella-mender,  who  was  frequently  absent  on  long 
journeys;  whereas,  in  reality,  it  was  the  scene  of  many 
crimes  and  the  hiding-place  of  many  criminals. 

We  need  only  add  in  explanation  of  present  incidents 
that  Bencull,  the  Durrynacker,  and  the  Buttoner,  flushed 
with  the  success  of  their  proceedings  amongst  the  crowds 
collected  for  the  steeplechase  in  the  morning,  had  resolved 
not  to  allow  the  night  to  pass  without  trying  their  luck  " 
on  Shooter's  Hill.  Hence  the  stoppage  of  the  baronet's 
carriage,  and  the  circumstances  which  led  to  his  introduction 
to  the  hut. 

We  stated  that  upon  ascending  the  stairs  a  second  time 
the  Buttoner  found  Nell  Gibson  counting  her  money; 
and  as  he  tossed  her  the  letter  which  he  had  just  received 
from  the  baronet  down-stairs,  he  said,  "  Here,  gal,  is  the 
dokiment  that  will  produce  a  hundred  guineas  to-morrow 
morning." 

So  much  the  better,"  observed  the  young  woman,  with 
a  smile  of  satisfaction;  this  is  something  hke  a  night's 
adventure.  Let  me  see,  there's  five  of  us:  that  will  be 
twenty  guineas  apiece;  because  although  you  and  me 
are  now  as  good  as  one,  yet  we  go  shares  as  two." 

Oh,  to  be  sure,"  said  the  Buttoner;  that's  understood. 
You'll  have  to  start  off  precious  early  in  the  morning,  Nell, 


SHOOTER'S  HILL 


361 


so  as  to  deliver  that  letter  by  eight  or  nine  o'clock,  and  make 
sure  of  the  money.  Not  that  it  matters  much,  so  far  as  the 
swell  cove  hisself  is  concerned,  for  we  don't  mean  to  part 
with  him  quite  so  easy.  In  fact,"  added  the  Buttoner, 
lowering  his  voice  to  a  whisper,  "  we  don't  mean  to  part 
with  him  at  all." 

"  Then  what  do  you  mean?  "  asked  Nell,  in  her  usually 
quiet  way,  as  if  it  were  impossible  for  her  to  be  surprised, 
startled,  or  alarmed  by  any  announcement  that  could  be 
made  or  any  plan  that  could  be  revealed. 

"  Why,  the  swell  cove  has  got  such  a  handsome  yack 
and  chain,  such  beautiful  fawneys,  and  such  a  sweet  breast- 
pin, besides  which,  his  toggery  is  so  precious  good,  that  it 
would  raly  be  a  sin  to  let  such  wallyables  slip  through  our 
fingers.  And  therefore,"  added  the  Buttoner,  in  a  still 
lower  whisper  and  with  an  ominous  look,  "  we  mean  to  put 
him  wery  comfortably  out  of  the  way.  Besides,  dead  men 
tell  no  tales,  and  since  he  has  seen  all  our  precious  faces 
and  would  have  no  trouble  in  recognizing  us  again,  it's  much 
better  to  give  him  his  gruel." 

Who  is  he?  "  asked  Nell  Gibson.  Do  you  know  his 
name?  Because  if  he  happens  to  be  any  great  person, 
there  would  be  such  a  precious  piece  of  work  that  no  stone 
would  be  left  unturned  till  his  fate  was  discovered." 

''To  be  sure  I  know  who  he  is,"  returned  the  Buttoner. 

You  don't  think  I  should  have  been  fool  enough  to  let 
him  seal  up  that  there  letter  afore  I  read  it  through?  But 
I  say,  Nell,  you  don't  object  to  having  this  swell  cove  made 
away  with,  do  ye?  " 

''  Not  I  indeed,"  returned  this  young  woman,  who  beneath 
a  handsome  exterior  concealed  the  implacable  and  remorse- 
less spirit  of  a  fiend.  ''  And  even  supposing  I  did  object, 
I  know  very  well  that  if  BencuU  has  once  made  up  his  mind, 
neither  heaven  nor  earth  could  move  him  to  the  contrary." 

*'  Well,  he  has,  then,  I  can  tell  you,"  returned  the  But- 
toner; "  for  although  not  a  word  has  passed  our  lips  on 
the  subject,  yet  me  and  him  and  the  Durrynacker  and 
Mushroom  Faker  have  settled  the  pint  with  our  looks." 

"  I  suppose  you  will  wait  till  I  come  back  to-morrow  to 
say  whether  I  have  got  the  money  or  not?  "  observed  Nell 
Gibson. 

"  There's  no  use  waiting  at  all,"  answered  the  Buttoner. 


362  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  Whether  he's  alive  or  dead  at  eight  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning  won't  make  no  difference  in  your  getting  the  money; 
and  as  for  sticking  a  knife  in  a  feller  in  cold  blood  during  the 
daytime,  I  raly  couldn't  do  it.  It's  all  wery  well  at  night, 
when  one  has  had  plenty  of  lush  to  make  one  plucky  —  " 
Well,  you  know  best,  and  it's  quite  the  same  to  me," 
interrupted  Nell  Gibson,  with  a  yawn.  But,  after  all,  you 
haven't  told  me  what  his  name  is,"  she  observed,  carelessly, 
as  she  turned  the  letter  over  and  over  in  her  hand. 

"  Douglas  Huntingdon  the  signature  is,"  answered  the 
Buttoner.  But  what's  the  matter,  Nell?  "  he  demanded, 
as  she  suddenly  dropped  the  letter  on  the  floor. 

*^  Nothing.  Why  do  you  ask?  "  she  inquired,  stooping 
down  to  pick  up  the  letter.  Then,  having  done  so,  she 
looked  up  in  the  Buttoner's  face,  saying,  Why  did  you 
ask  me  that  question,  I  repeat?  " 

"  Because  I  thought  you  started  and  looked  queer  all  of 
a  sudden,"  was  the  response. 

Not  I  indeed,"  she  observed,  in  an  offhand  manner, 
as  she  steadily  met  the  keen,  searching  gaze  which  the 
Buttoner  fixed  upon  her  for  a  few  moments.  "  Do  you  think 
he  suspects  he  is  in  any  danger?  "  she  asked;  "  because  if 
so  it  would  be  well  to  lull  him  into  security." 

That's  just  what  I  want,"  responded  the  Buttoner. 
I  shouldn't  like  for  us  all  to  have  to  set  upon  him  while's 
he  awake,  and  so  massacre  him,  as  one  may  say.  I  had 
much  rayther  that  he  would  lie  down  and  go  to  sleep,  and 
then  we  could  do  his  business  all  quiet  and  comfortable 
without  leaving  no  telltale  stains  about  the  place.  In  fact, 
I  told  him  just  now  that  I  would  come  up-stairs  and  see 
what  accommodation  my  young  woman  could  make  for 
him." 

"  Well,  why  don't  you  go  and  tell  him  he  can  have  a  bed- 
room, such  as  it  is?  "  said  Nell  Gibson.  "  Or  I  tell  you  what," 
she  added,  a  thought  suddenly  appearing  to  strike  her, 
"  if  you  like  I'll  go  down-stairs  and  invite  him  to  come  up 
here." 

Well,  do  so  if  you  fancy  you'll  succeed,"  replied  the 
Buttoner.   "  There's  no  harm  in  trying  it  on." 

"  No  harm  at  all,"  echoed  Nell  Gibson;  and  with  this 
observation  she  descended  to  the  room  below,  the  Buttoner 
remaining  up-stairs. 


SHOOTER'S  HILL 


363 


The  moment  she  made  her  appearance  in  the  lower  apart- 
ment she  threw  a  rapid  look  of  intelligence  upon  BencuU, 
the  Durrynacker,  and  the  Mushroom  Faker,  who  were 
boozing  at  one  table,  while  she  advanced  toward  the  baronet, 
who  was  still  seated  at  the  other.  The  three  villains  under- 
stood by  this  look  that  she  had  some  project  in  hand,  and 
they  therefore  affected  to  take  no  particular  notice  of  her. 
This  was  precisely  what  she  wanted;  her  object  was  to 
divert  their  attention,  or,  at  all  events,  cause  them  to  look 
aside  for  a  moment,  while  she  had  an  opportunity  of  making 
a  sign  of  intelligence  to  the  baronet.  Indeed,  had  she  not 
by  such  a  sign  enjoined  him  to  hold  his  peace,  an  exclama- 
tion of  astonishment  would  have  burst  from  his  lips;  for 
Nell  Gibson  was  indeed  no  stranger  to  him,  and  he  had 
instantaneously  recognized  her. 

Yes,  her  form  was  fuller  and  grosser,  her  looks  were 
bolder,  and  her  mien  was  more  brazen  than  when  he 
saw  her  last;  nevertheless,  he  failed  not  to  recognize  in 
an  instant  that  countenance  which  he  had  once  admired, 
and  that  form  whose  virgin  charms  had  been  despoiled  by 
him. 

The  ejaculation,  then,  of  amazement  which  was  about  to 
burst  forth  died  upon  his  lips  as  he  caught  that  signal 
which  she  made  him;  and  instantly  perceiving  by  her 
manner  that  she  had  in  view  some  purpose  which  she  wished 
to  conceal  from  the  ruffians  at  the  other  end  of  the  room, 
he  suddenly  assumed  an  air  of  perfect  composure,  so  as  not 
to  betray  that  any  secret  intelligence  existed  between  them. 

"  You  are  sure,  sir,"  she  said,  holding  up  the  letter,  "  that 
this  document  will  meet  with  proper  attention  to-morrow 
morning?  " 

I  am  certain  of  it,"  he  replied.  "  The  men  who  brought 
me  hither  overheard  the  instructions  which  I  gave  to  my 
servants  ere  they  departed  with  the  carriage  —  " 

But  while  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  was  thus  speaking, 
Nell  Gibson  said,  in  a  low,  rapid  whisper,  Fly  hence,  I 
conjure  you!  " 

Startling  as  these  words  were,  inasmuch  as  they  revealed 
to  him  in  a  moment  all  the  dangers  of  his  position,  he  never- 
theless had  the  presence  of  mind  to  continue  speaking  the 
sentence  which  we  have  recorded;  and  thus  his  voice  drowned 
the  whispered  accents  of  the  female. 


364  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Well,  sir,"  she  said,  aloud,  as  if  in  answer  to  the  obser- 
vation which  he  had  made,  I  do  hope  that  it  will  not  be 
a  wild-goose  chase  that  I  shall  have  to-morrow  morning. 
And  now,  sir,  as  you  have  got  to  stay  here  all  night,  I  am 
sent  to  propose  that  you  walk  up-stairs  and  lie  down." 

But  as  she  thus  spoke,  she  gave  a  slight  and  just  per- 
ceptible shake  of  the  head,  as  much  as  to  tell  him  not  to 
accept  her  offer. 

Thank  you,  young  woman,"  he  said,  aloud,  with  a 
look  which  showed  that  he  not  only  experienced  a  full  sense 
of  the  danger  of  which  she  had  made  him  aware,  but  like- 
wise the  deepest  gratitude  toward  herself,  thank  you, 
young  woman,  I  would  rather  not.  Presently,  when  I  feel 
tired,  I  will  avail  myself  of  the  offer." 

And  while  Sir  Douglas  was  thus  speaking,  in  such  a 
manner  as  perfectly  to  cover  Nell's  whispered  accents,  she 
breathed,  in  the  lowest  tone,  the  following  words:  The 
door  is  not  fastened  —  watch  your  opportunity  —  seize 
that  knife  —  and  escape!"  Then,  immediately  afterward, 
she  said,  aloud,  and  in  a  calm,  placid  voice,  Would  you 
hke  anything  to  eat,  sir?  We  have  provisions  in  the  place, 
and  because  you  are  a  prisoner  for  a  few  hours,  there's  no 
reason  why  you  should  be  starved." 

"  No,  I  thank  you,  I  require  nothing,"  responded  the 
baronet;  and  as  he  threw  a  rapid,  furtive,  sidelong  glance 
toward  the  three  men  at  the  other  end  of  the  room,  he  saw 
in  the  sinister  signs  they  were  making  together  a  horrible 
confirmation  of  the  dire  alarms  which  Nell  Gibson  had 
excited  in  his  breast. 

I  wish  you  good  night,  sir,"  she  said;  and  darting  upon 
him  another  look  of  intelligence,  she  turned  away. 

Ascending  the  staircase  to  the  chamber  above,  she  re- 
appeared in  the  presence  of  the  Buttoner,  who  was  paying 
his  respects  to  the  brandy  bottle  there.' 

Well,  gal,  I  see  it's  no  use,"  he  observed.  The  swell 
cove  wouldn't  be  enticed  up  here,  eh?  " 

But  he  doesn't  suspect  anything  wrong,"  returned 
the  young  woman,  with  the  most  perfect  composure  of 
countenance.  ''It  is  quite  clear  he  fancies  himself  safe 
enough  from  danger,  and  that  he  will  be  let  loose  again  to- 
morrow when  I  come  back  with  the  money." 

She  then  sat  down  by  the  side  of  the  Buttoner,  with  an 


SHOOTER'S  HILL 


365 


air  as  composed  and  self-possessed  as  if  she  had  betrayed 
nothing  of  the  contemplated  horrors. 

In  the  meantime  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  had  remained 
sitting  at  the  table  in  the  apartment  below.  Cold,  ice-cold 
was  the  tremor  that  seized  upon  him  as  he  reflected  on  the 
appalling  perils  by  which  he  was  surrounded.  Though  no 
coward,  he  could  not  help  shrinking  in  dismay  from  the 
chasm  on  the  brink  of  which  he  appeared  to  stand.  As  he 
glanced  furtively  around  upon  the  three  men  who  were 
boozing  at  the  other  table,  he  fancied  that  murder  was 
written  upon  their  very  countenances.  Averting  his  eyes 
in  dread  horror,  he  cast  them  down  upon  the  floor;  and, 
behold!  they  settled  on  stains  which  instantaneously  struck 
him  to  be  those  of  blood.  His  looks  were  startled  away 
from  that  hideous  point  of  view;  and  as  they  swept  in 
frightened  rapidity  around,  they  caught  other  stains  upon 
the  wooden  wall,  which  hkewise  appeared  to  be  the  marks 
of  blood. 

Shuddering  to  the  very  confines  of  his  being,  the  baronet 
felt  as  if  he  were  indeed  looking  death  face  to  face.  The 
pitchy  darkness  of  the  night  that  hung  like  a  sable  pall 
against  the  cottage-window,  the  awful  stillness  that  pre- 
vailed around,  the  utter  loneliness  of  that  hut,  the  evil 
reputation  of  the  neighbourhood,  the  deep  solemn  hour  of 
midnight,  and  then  those  villainous  countenances,  which 
seemed  more  sinister  and  diabolical  still  as  the  faint,  flicker- 
ing light  played  upon  them,  —  all  these  influences  and 
circumstances  combined  to  fill  his  soul  with  a  fearful  con- 
sternation and  a  horrible  dismay. 

Scarce  a  quarter  of  an  hour  had  elapsed  since  he  had 
refused  in  disgust  the  dram  of  brandy  which  the  Buttoner 
had  offered  to  him;  but  now  he  hastened  to  pour  it  out 
and  greedily  swallow  it,  to  revive  his  drooping  courage. 
In  a  moment  the  burning  fluid  appeared  to  flash  like  lightning 
through  his  veins;  it  was  the  spark  to  a  whole  train  of  excite- 
ment which  had  been  subdued  for  a  few  minutes  by  the 
weight  of  an  overwhelming  consternation. 

Yes,  all  was  now  haste  in  his  thoughts,  hurry  in  his  ideas, 
a  dizzy  whirl  in  his  brain.  The  red  right  arm  of  murder 
seemed  to  be  extended  over  him;  the  gleaming  blade 
appeared  to  be  ready  to  plunge  down  into  his  heart;  and 
his  eyes  swept  wildly  around  to  assure  himself  that  the 


366  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


ruffians  were  not  already  standing  behind  him  or  creeping 
stealthily  toward  him.  No,  they  were  still  seated  at  the 
table,  drinking  and  talking.  The  man  Bencull  had  thrown 
off  his  coat  and  appeared  in  his  shirt-sleeves.  This  in 
reality  was  because  the  night  was  close,  the  room  was  hot, 
and  much  liquor  had  made  him  feverish;  but  to  the  excited 
imagination  of  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  it  appeared  as  if 
the  fellow  were  preparing  himself  to  do  the  work  of  murder, 
as  a  butcher  prepares  for  the  slaughter  of  an  ox;  and  now, 
wrought  up  to  a  pitch  of  desperation,  the  baronet  snatched 
up  the  knife,  made  but  one  bound  from  his  seat  to  the  door, 
lifted  the  latch,  and  darted  forth  into  the  pitchy  blackness 
of  the  night. 

With  ejaculations  of  amazement  and  fury,  Bencull,  the 
Durrynacker,  and  the  Mushroom  Faker  rushed  after  the 
fugitive;  and  those  cries  of  rage,  reaching  the  chamber 
above,  told  Nell  Gibson  that  the  baronet  had  escaped,  and 
startled  the  Buttoner  with  the  conviction  that  something 
was  wrong.  Rushing  down  the  stairs,  he  found  the  lower 
room  empty  and  the  door  wide  open;  and  he  was  about  to 
dart  forth  and  join  in  the  pursuit  when  an  idea  that  flashed 
to  his  brain  struck  him,  as  it  were,  with  the  sudden  blow  of 
a  hammer,  and  made  him  stop  short  in  the  midst  of  his 
furious  excitement,  as  a  drunken  man  is  sobered  all  in  a 
moment  by  some  fearful  announcement. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 


THE  FAIR  STRANGER 

The  thought  which  thus  suddenly  arrested  the  steps  of 
the  Buttoner  and  transfixed  him  to  the  spot  was  that  Nell 
Gibson  had  betrayed  the  murderous  project  to  the  baronet. 

Our  readers  will  remember  a  certain  conversation  which 
took  place  a  fortnight  previously  to  the  present  date  of  our 
story  between  Bencull  and  the  Hangman  relative  to  the 
employment  of  Nell  Gibson  to  lead  Larry  Sampson  into  a 
trap.  It  will  likewise  be  borne  in  mind  that  to  make 
sure  doubly  sure,"  in  a  scheme  of  so  dangerous  and  deUcate 
a  character,  they  had  resolved  to  plant  the  Buttoner  as  a 
spy  upon  Nell  Gibson's  actions.  Being  well  provided  with 
cash  and  good  clothes,  the  Buttoner  had  found  these  proofs 
of  prosperity  to  be  immediate  passports  to  the  favour  of 
Miss  Gibson;  and  he  accordingly  took  up  his  abode  with 
her  at  Mrs.  Young's  delectable  establishment  in  Bermondsey. 
He  and  Nell  were  therefore  living  as  husband  and  wife 
together;  and  we  have  already  shown  how  it  was  that  they 
happened  to  be  at  the  hut  near  Shooter's  Hill  on  the  night 
of  which  we  are  writing. 

Now,  be  it  observed  that  the  Buttoner  was  expressly 
employed  and  also  bribed  by  Bencull  and  the  Hangman  to 
watch  Nell  Gibson's  conduct.  This  circumstance  was  alone 
sufficient  to  render  him  far  more  susceptible  of  misgiving 
than  he  otherwise  would  have  been,  and  more  liable  to 
entertain  suspicion  at  the  slightest  appearance  of  anything 
mysterious  or  sinister.  Thus,  when  he  suddenly  recollected 
how  Nell  Gibson  had  started,  and  how  strange  she  had 
looked  for  a  moment,  when  he  mentioned  the  baronet's 
name  to  her,  he  was  struck  by  the  idea  that  she  had  played 
the  traitress. 

367 


368  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Instead,  therefore,  of  rushing  out  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive, 
the  Buttoner  turned  back  from  the  threshold  of  the  hut, 
and  faced  Nell  Gibson  just  as  she  reached  the  bottom  of 
the  stairs  down  which  she  had  followed  him. 

You  see  this  swell  cove  has  escaped,"  he  said,  fixing  his 
eyes  upon  her  with  a  keenness  that  appeared  to  penetrate 
her  through  and  through. 

''I  see  it  indeed,"  she  answered,  encountering  his  gaze 
with  an  unwavering  steadiness,  although  upon  her  cheek 
there  seemed  to  be  a  slight,  slight  changing  of  colour,  and 
on  the  lips  the  least,  least  twitching  of  nervousness. 

"  What  did  you  say  to  him  just  now,  Nell?  "  inquired  the 
Buttoner,  scarcely  knowing  what  to  think,  but,  at  all  events, 
too  uncertain  as  to  her  manner  to  feel  justified  in  accusing 
her  pointblank  on  the  spot. 

"  I  merely  asked  him  whether  he  was  sure  that  the  money 
would  be  paid  to-morrow  morning,"  replied  Nell,  perceiving 
that  she  was  suspected,  but  still  maintaining  an  air  of 
perfect  self-possession;  "  and  when  he  had  assured  me  that 
there  would  be  no  mistake  on  that  head,"  she  continued, 

I  asked  him  whether  he  chose  to  lie  down  to  rest  or  to 
partake  of  any  refreshment." 

"  And  that  was  all  that  took  place?  "  said  the  Buttoner, 
still  keeping  his  eyes  steadily  fixed  upon  her. 

That  was  all,"  she  answered,  the  colour  neither  coming 
nor  going  now  upon  her  cheeks,  nor  her  lip  betraying  even 
the  slightest  uneasiness.  "  But  whatever  mischief  may 
follow  from  this  escape,"  she  observed,  in  a  tone  of  vexation 
mingled  with  reproach,  you  and  the  others  have  only  got 
yourselves  to  thank  for  it.  You  should  have  made  the 
door  fast,  and  not  left  the  bird  an  opportunity  to  fly  out  of 
his  cage." 

By  jingo!  what  you  say  is  true  enough,  Nell,"  exclaimed 
the  Buttoner,  feeling  how  justly  merited  was  the  remon- 
strance; then,  advancing  to  the  door,  which  still  stood  wide 
open,  he  listened  with  suspended  breath,  while  with  straining 
eyes  he  endeavoured  to  penetrate  the  pitchy  blacknessiof 
the  night. 

Well,  can  you  hear  anything?  "  asked  the  young  woman, 
as  he  turned  back  again  from  the  door,  leaving  it,  however, 
wide  open. 

"  Nothing,  not  even  the  rustling  of  the  branches,"  he 


THE  FAIR  STRANGER 


369 


replied,  with  a  terrible  imprecation.  ^'  Do  you  know,  Nell, 
this  is  a  very  serious  business  and  may  end  cursed  badly? 
Like  infernal  fools  that  we  were,  we  once  or  twice  let  slip 
each  other's  names;  and  so,  what  with  knowing  these,  and 
being  able  to  describe  our  precious  faces,  this  swell  cove, 
if  he  makes  good  his  escape,  will  be  able  to  give  such  informa- 
tion against  us  as  shall  make  London  too  hot  to  hold  us. 
Then,  my  eyes!  won't  Larry  indeed  have  something  to  be 
down  upon  us  for!  " 

How  provoking,"  ejaculated  Nell  Gibson;  "  and  just 
at  the  time,  too,  that  I  was  getting  Larry  Sampson  into  such 
a  nice  state  of  credulity  that  a  few  days  more  would  entice 
him  into  the  trap  as  safe  and  sure  as  possible!  " 

Yes,  it  is  deucedly  provoking,"  growled  the  Buttoner, 
and  once  more  he  went  to  the  threshold  and  listened  atten- 
tively. "  There's  not  a  sound,  not  even  the  waving  of  the 
trees,"  and  again  turning  away  from  the  door,  he  tossed  off 
a  bumper  of  brandy. 

What  must  we  do?  "  inquired  Nell,  appearing  to  be 
very  uneasy,  although  in  her  heart  she  knew  full  well  that 
the  baronet  would  not  be  guilty  of  such  black  ingratitude 
as  to  give  any  information  to  the  authorities  calculated 
to  compromise  herself. 

"  What  must  we  do?  "  echoed  her  paramour.  Why, 
if  our  pals  come  back  without  the  swell  cove,  we  must  get 
away  from  here  as  quick  as  ever  we  can.  Who  knows  but 
what  he  may  cut  across  to  Greenwich  and  come  back  at 
once  with  a  whole  posse  of  constables?  Or  perhaps  he  may 
meet  some  travellers  on  the  road —  " 

"  Ay,  truly,"  cried  Nell,  affecting  to  be  very  seriously 
alarmed.  Let  us  go  away  at  once.  There's  no  use  in 
staying  here  to  be  taken.  BencuU  and  the  others  will 
know  very  well  how  to  shift  for  themselves.  Suppose  we 
go  down  to  the  Jolly  Wagoner,  where  Daniel  Coffin  and  his 
party  are." 

"  Well,  go  up-stairs  and  put  on  your  toggery,"  interrupted 
the  Buttoner,  really  beginning  to  think  that  it  was  high 
time  to  make  themselves  scarce. 

Nell  Gibson  accordingly  tripped  up  to  the  room  above; 
but  scarcely  had  she  adjusted  her  bonnet  and  thrown  her 
flaunting  scarf  over  her  previously  much  exposed  shoulders 
and  bosom,  when  she  heard  the  sound  of  voices  below,  and 


370  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


recognizing  BenculFs  hoarse  tones,  she  hastened  down- 
stairs again,  sick  at  heart  with  the  apprehension  that  Sir 
Douglas  had  been  retaken. 

Bencull,  Bob  the  Durrynacker,  and  the  Mushroom  Faker 
had  indeed  returned,  as  Nell  had  just  expected;  but  instead 
of  being  accompanied  by  the  baronet,  the  first-mentioned  of 
the  three  ruffians  bore  in  his  arms  the  inanimate  form  of  a 
beautiful  girl,  while  one  of  the  others  carried  in  his  hand  a 
bundle  tied  up  in  a  shawl. 

What  in  the  devil's  name  does  this  mean?  "  demanded 
the  Buttoner,  surveying  his  comrades  with  surprise  and  the 
senseless  damsel  with  a  look  of  admiration. 

Here's  a  present  for  Nell,"  said  Bencull,  with  a  salacious 
leer,  as  he  looked  down  upon  the  still  and  placid  countenance 
of  his  fair  burden.  Nell  will  break  her  in,  in  the  usual 
style." 

Ay,  that  will  I!  "  exclaimed  the  young  woman,  who  was 
not  only  immensely  relieved  at  finding  her  fears  unfounded 
with  regard  to  the  recapture  of  the  baronet,  but  who  was 
also  much  struck  with  the  sweet,  touching,  and  interesting 
beauty  of  the  fair  stranger,  whose  charms  she  already 
resolved  upon  turning  into  gold.  "  Mrs.  Gale  will  give 
twenty  guineas  for  this  young  creature ;  and  I  dare  say  the 
Marquis  of  Leveson,  who  is  Mrs.  Gale's  best  patron,  will  give 
her  at  least  five  times  as  much.  But  come,  bring  her  up- 
stairs and  lay  her  down  on  the  bed;  for  this  swoon  is  so 
deep  that  it  may  be  dangerous." 

Bencull  accordingly  bore  the  beauteous  girl  in  his  arms 
to  the  chamber  above;  while  Nell  Gibson  followed  with  the 
bundle  which  she  took  from  the  Mushroom  Faker,  who  was 
carrying  it.  The  fair  stranger  was  deposited  softly  and  gently 
upon  the  heap  of  flock;  and  Nell  Gibson,  stooping  down, 
unfastened  her  bonnet,  which  was  much  crushed,  so  as  to 
give  her  air.  A  luxuriant  profusion  of  soft  and  fine  flaxen 
tresses  now  flowed  over  the  wretched  coverlid  whereon 
reclined  the  damsel's  beauteous  head;  and  though  all  tint 
of  vital  colouring  had  fled  from  her  countenance,  leaving  it 
marble  pale,  and  her  eyes  were  closed  as  if  in  death,  so  still 
were  the  long  brown  lashes  that  rested  on  her  cheeks,  yet 
was  there  an  air  of  such  Madonna-like  sweetness  and 
angelic  beauty  about  this  lovely  girl,  that  only  a  heart  so 
intensely  selfish  as  that  of  Nell  Gibson,  or  so  brutally  fero- 


THE  FAIR  STRANGER 


371 


cious  as  that  of  Bencull,  could  have  remained  inaccessible 
to  the  soft  stealing  influence  and  silent  magic  of  such  charms. 

The  damsel  was  tall,  slender,  and  of  sylphid  symmetry. 
Her  apparel,  though  exceedingly  plain,  was  very  neat;  and 
as  she  lay  stretched  upon  that  sordid  couch,  her  drapery, 
humble  as  it  was,  seemed  to  have  settled  itself  in  purely 
classic  folds,  developing  the  flowing  outlines  of  the  form 
which  it  concealed,  and  displaying  the  exquisite  shape  of 
the  beautifully  modelled  limbs. 

It  was  not,  however,  in  such  an  aesthetic  light  that  Nell 
Gibson  contemplated  the  sweetly  reposing  form  of  the 
inanimate  maiden,  but  she  did  not  fail  to  appreciate  all  the 
touching  softness  and  all  the  tender  interest  that  enveloped 
the  fair  stranger  as  with  a  halo;  so  that  when  she  had 
removed  the  bonnet  and  beheld  all  that  silken  richness  of 
the  flaxen  hair,  setting  off  a  countenance  of  virginal  inno- 
cence, shoulders  beautifully  rounded  and  gently  sloping,  and 
a  bust  whose  nascent  charms  were  proportioned  like  a  Gre- 
cian statue,  the  young  woman  threw  upon  Bencull  a  look  of 
delight,  as  she  whispered,  "  This  is  indeed  a  prize  that  you 
have  brought  here!  " 

"  Well,  you  may  thank  the  night-coach  for  upsetting  just 
at  the  brow  of  Shooter's  Hill,"  returned  Bencull. 

"  What  on  earth  do  you  mean?"  demanded  Nell  Gibson, 
surveying  him  with  a  look  of  astonishment  at  such  a  singular 
remark. 

I  mean  just  this,"  answered  the  man:  "  that  as  me  and 
the  two  pals  reached  the  hill  in  search  of  that  feller  Hunting- 
don, we  heard  a  noise  of  voices  calling  out,  horses  plunging, 
and  all  kind  of  confusion,  while  lights  was  dancing  about 
on  the  spot  that  the  noise  came  from.  So  we  crept  up  to 
the  place,  and  we  soon  found  out  what  it  was.  The  night- 
coach  for  Dover  had  upset;  and  there  was  a  rare  scene,  if 
so  be  all  that  took  place  in  the  dark  can  be  called  a  scene  at 
all.  But  it  wasn't  quite  in  the  dark,  neither;  for  the 
coachman  and  guard  had  got  down  the  lamps  and  was 
moving  about  to  see  the  extent  of  the  mischief  done.  '  Here's 
this  sweet  young  gal,'  says  the  guard,  '  which  sat  next  to 
me  just  now;  she's  pitched  right  on  this  bank,  and  is  either 
stunned  or  dead.'  And  as  he  spoke  he  threw  the  light  on 
her  face  and  figure  in  such  a  manner  that  me  and  the  two 
pals  caught  a  full  view  of  her,  for  she  was  laying  within  a 


372  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


couple  of  yards  of  the  spot  where  we  was  hid  in  the  shade. 
We  saw  quite  enough  of  her  to  convince  us  that  she  was  a 
sweet  pretty  creature;  and  the  Mushroom  Faker  whispered 
in  my  ear,  '  My  eyes!  if  Nell  Gibson  only  had  that  young 
gal  in  her  hands  for  a  week  or  so.'  These  words  was  a  hint, 
and  without  any  more  ado  I  took  the  young  gal  up  in  my 
arms  the  moment  the  guard  turned  away  to  attend  to  a 
inside  passenger.  Finding  that  her  heart  beat,  I  carried  her 
right  clean  away  from  the  spot,  no  one  seeing  the  dodge 
in  the  darkness  and  the  confusion.  The  Mushroom  Faker 
kicked  against  a  bundle  which  he  accordingly  picked  up  and 
brought  with  him;  and  as  it  was  quite  close  to  the  place 
where  the  young  girl  was  laying,  I  suppose  it  is  hers." 

Well,  the  occurrence  is  a  fortunate  one,"  observed 
Nell  Gibson;  "  for  Mrs.  Gale  will  pay  handsomely  for  this 
young  creature.  She's  delicate-looking,  but  beautiful  as 
an  angel,  though  I  say  it  who  know  so  little  about  angels  — 
and  perhaps  never  shall  know  any  more.  But  what  about 
the  baronet?  "  she  demanded,  abruptly. 

^'  Oh,  he's  a  baronet,  is  he?  "  exclaimed  Bencull.  "  Yes, 
to  be  sure,  I  recollect  there  is  a  baronet  of  the  name  of 
Huntingdon  at  the  West  End  —  I've  heard  of  him  afore; 
he's  a  pal  of  the  prince's.  Well,  I  suppose  he  has  got  clean 
off;  and  precious  awkward  it  is,  too.  I  must  go  down-stairs 
and  see  what  our  pals  say  about  it.  So  I'll  leave  you  to  take 
care  of  this  young  gal." 

With  these  words  the  ruffian  quitted  the  chamber;  and 
when  the  door  had  closed  behind  him,  Nell  Gibson  took  some 
water  and  sprinkled  it  upon  the  young  damsel's  countenance. 
The  effect  was  soon  visible,  and  slowly  did  the  fair  being 
begin  to  recover;  her  bosom  rose  and  fell  with  the  long  and 
painful  undulations  of  returning  consciousness,  and  open- 
ing a  pair  of  the  finest  azure  eyes  that  ever  reflected  the  pure 
soul's  light  of  innocence,  she  gazed  up  with  a  look  of  vacant 
inquiry  into  the  countenance  that  was  bending  over  her. 
Then,  as  her  recollection  gradually  revived,  and  all  the 
circumstances  of  the  recent  accident  were  recalled  to  her 
mind,  she  glanced  around  with  an  expression  rather  of 
gratitude  than  astonishment;  for  it  naturally  occurred  to 
her  that  she  was  experiencing  the  hospitality  of  some 
humble  dwelling  near  the  scene  of  the  coach  accident. 

"  Are  you  injured?    Do  you  feel  hurt?  "  inquired  Nell 


THE  FAIR  STRANGER 


373 


Gibson,  in  a  tone  so  kind  and  reassuring  that  it  precluded 
the  springing  up  of  any  immediate  alarm  or  suspicion  in 
the  maiden's  mind. 

"  No,  I  do  not  feel  that  I  have  sustained  any  serious 
injury,  beyond  a  severe  shock/'  answered  the  beauteous 
stranger,  in  a  voice  of  the  most  touching  melody;  and  as 
the  colour  came  back  with  the  deUcate  tinge  of  the  rose- 
leaf  to  her  cheeks,  but  with  the  deepest  hue  of  that  blushing 
flower  to  her  exquisitely  chiselled  lips,  and  as  these  hps 
revealed  teeth  white  as  Oriental  pearls,  and  exhaled  the 
balmiest  breath,  Nell  Gibson  could  not  help  thinking  that 
she  had  never  seen  a  lovelier  creature  than  this  fair  girl. 

You  are  welcome  where  you  are,  young  lady,"  said 
Nell;  and  if  you  can  put  up  with  such  poor  accommoda- 
tion as  I  am  able  to  afford,  I  shall  be  truly  happy." 

"  My  best  thanks  are  due  for  your  kindness,"  answered 
the  damsel;  and  it  was  with  a  sort  of  ill-subdued  shudder 
that  she  cast  her  eyes  around  that  wretched,  cheerless, 
poverty-stricken  chamber.  "  But  I  must  pursue  my  jour- 
ney this  night;  I  must  return  to  the  coach,  which  will  no 
doubt  continue  its  way  —  " 

"  The  coach  is  so  much  injured,"  interrupted  Nell,  that 
it  will  not  be  able  to  go  on  till  the  morning;  and  therefore 
you  must  make  up  your  mind  to  stay  here.  Is  that  your 
bundle,  miss?  " 

Yes,  I  thank  you,"  was  the  answer,  as  the  fair  stranger 
glanced  toward  the  object  thus  indicated.  But  indeed  — 
oh,  indeed,"  she  cried,  in  accents  that  bespoke  a  painful 
and  increasing  agitation,  I  must  even  pursue  my  way  on 
foot,  for  I  have  promised  to  be  at  Dover  by  a  certain  hour 
to-morrow,"  and  as  she  thus  spoke,  she  endeavoured  to  rise 
from  the  flock  bed;  but  sinking  back  again  with  the  weak- 
ness and  exhaustion  consequent  upon  her  fall  from  the 
coach-top,  she  clasped  her  hands  in  a  despairing  manner, 
murmuring,  "  O  God!  what  will  he  think?  " 

Then  a  faintness  came  over  her,  and  she  sank  down 
again  upon  the  wretched  couch,  deprived  of  consciousness. 

Meantime,  in  the  apartment  down-stairs.  Bob  the  Durry- 
nacker  and  the  Mushroom  Faker  had  explained  to  the 
Buttoner  the  accident  relative  to  the  night-coach,  and  the 
manner  in  which  the  fair  damsel  had  fallen  into  their  hands. 


374  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Well,  I've  no  doubt  but  what  my  young  woman  will 
turn  her  to  precious  good  advantage/'  said  the  Buttoner. 

But  wouldn't  it  have  been  much  better  to  go  on  looking 
after  the  swell  cove  than  to  bother  oneself  about  young 
gals  pitched  from  the  top  of  stage-coaches?  " 

"  This  Huntingdon  chap,  you  see,  has  slipped  betwixt 
our  fingers,"  said  the  Mushroom  Faker;  "  and  to  think  of 
looking  any  longer  for  him  in  the  midst  of  this  dark  night  was 
about  as  wise  as  to  hunt  for  a  needle  in  a  haystack." 

"  Then  we  must  all  bolt  off  at  once,"  said  the  Buttoner, 
^'  or  else  the  swell  cove  will  p'r'aps  come  back  with  a  posse 
of  beaks  at  his  heels." 

Now,  then,  who's  giving  way  to  idle  fears  like  that 
there,  and  where  the  deuce  is  the  swell  cove  to  get  assistance 
or  raise  an  alarm  at  this  time  of  night?  "  demanded  Bencull, 
who  had  just  descended  from  the  chamber  above.  "  The 
circumstance  of  his  knowing  our  precious  names  and  having 
seen  all  our  beautiful  faces  is  the  worst;  'cos  why,  it  will 
make  London  too  hot  to  hold  us.  Now,  then,  I  tell  you  what 
we  will  do,"  he  continued,  speaking  with  great  rapidity. 

There's  no  doubt  this  baronet  —  " 

"  Baronet!  "  ejaculated  the  Buttoner.  ^'  How  d'ye  know 
he's  a  baronet?  " 

"  Why,  your  young  woman  says  so,"  answered  Bencull. 

''Ah!  Nell  said  so,  did  she?"  observed  the  Buttoner, 
all  his  suspicions  flaming  up  again,  more  vividly  than  ever, 
in  his  mind;  but  not  deeming  the  present  time  a  favourable 
opportunity  to  mention  his  misgivings,  he  said,  "  Well,  go 
on,  Bencull;  what  are  we  to  do?  What  do  you  advise?  " 

"  Why,  I  should  think,"  continued  the  landlord  of  the 
dark  crib  at  Jacob's  Island,  "  that  the  baronet  must  have 
got  down  into  the  main  road  by  this  time;  so  either  he  is 
making  for  Dartford  or  else  for  Greenwich.  Whichever  it 
is,  he  must  be  overtook  and  done  for,  come  what  will.  Now, 
then,  you  and  me,  Buttoner,  will  cut  right  through  the 
thicket  and  take  the  Dartford  direction,  while  you  two," 
he  added,  addressing  himself  to  the  Durrynacker  and  the 
Mushroom  Faker,  "  set  off  toward  Greenwich.  This  is  what 
we  ought  to  have  done  at  first;  but  it's  better  late  than  never, 
and  we're  pretty  sure  to  overtake  him." 

"  I'll  just  run  up  and  let  Nell  know  what  we  are  doing," 
said  the  Buttoner. 


THE  FAIR  STRANGER 


375 


"  Don't  stay  a  moment,  then,"  observed  Bencull. 

The  Buttoner  hastened  up-stairs  and  found  Nell  Gibson 
hanging  over  the  fair  stranger,  just  at  the  moment  that 
the  latter  had  sunk  down  again  into  a  state  of  insensibility 
as  already  described. 

"  I'm  going  off  in  pursuit  of  that  swell  cove,  Nell,"  said 
the  Buttoner,  in  a  hurried  manner  and  without  suffering 
her  to  perceive  that  his  suspicions  were  aroused  again; 
"  for  Bencull  says  it  must  be  done,  and  so  we  mean  to  dog 
him  until  we  find  him.  You  must  stay  here  till  we  come 
back." 

Nell  Gibson  dared  not  venture  a  word  of  remonstrance 
against  this  renewal  of  the  pursuit  after  Sir  Douglas  Hunting- 
don; and.  on  the  other  hand,  she  experienced  in  reality  no 
fears  for  her  own  safety  in  remaining  at  the  hut,  inasmuch 
as  we  have  already  said  she  was  well  convinced  that  the 
baronet  would  adopt  no  extreme  course  calculated  to 
compromise  herself. 

The  Buttoner,  having  made  her  acquainted  with  the 
intended  expedition,  paused  not  to  speak  another  word, 
but  hastened  down  to  rejoin  his  companions.  They  then 
all  four  issued  from  the  hut,  leaving  Nell  Gibson  alone  with 
the  fair  stranger. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 


THE  JOLLY  WAGONER  —  FRESH  PERILS 

We  must  now  return  to  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  who 
was  destined  this  night  to  pass  through  so  many  strange 
and  perilous  adventures.  At  the  moment  he  bounded  forth 
from  the  hut  in  the  manner  already  described,  he  knew  full 
well  that  pursuit  would  be  instantaneous.  Accordingly, 
instead  of  rushing  away  straight  ahead  and  plunging  into 
the  thicket  in  the  direction  of  the  road,  he  at  once  passed 
around  to  the  back  of  the  cottage  and  there  posted  himself, 
remaining  as  still  and  motionless  as  a  statue.  At  the  same 
time  he  heard  his  pursuers  rushing  forth  from  the  door  on 
the  other  side  of  the  building;  and  as  they  at  once  made  for 
the  road,  the  baronet  had  reason  to  congratulate  himself 
on  the  success  of  his  manoeuvre.  Not  for  an  instant  did  the 
ruffians  suspect  that  he  had  remained  so  near;  and  not 
only  were  they  thus  thrown  completely  off  the  right  scent, 
but  they  could  hear  nothing,  not  a  footfall  amongst  the 
dried  leaves,  nor  the  snapping  of  a  twig,  to  mark  the  course 
which  the  fugitive  baronet  might  have  taken. 

Having  suffered  several  minutes  to  elapse.  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon  stole  away  from  the  vicinity  of  the  cottage; 
and  securing  about  his  person  the  knife  which  he  had 
brought  with  him,  he  proceeded  at  random  through  the 
intense  blackness  of  the  night.  The  reader  will  therefore 
understand  that  Sir  Douglas  was  now  advancing  in  the  very 
opposite  direction  from  that  which  his  pursuers  had  taken; 
and  while  they  had  become  engaged  in  the  adventure  of 
the  overturned  coach,  as  already  stated,  the  object  of  their 
search  was  speeding  across  the  fields  toward  a  light  that 
glimmered  in  the  distance. 

Cheered  by  the  appearance  of  this  ray,  which  he  hoped 

376 


FRESH  PERILS 


377 


would  prove  the  beacon  of  hospitality  as  well  as  the  harbinger 
of  safety  for  the  rest  of  the  night,  Sir  Douglas  increased  his 
pace;  but  still  he  was  compelled  to  advance  with  con- 
siderable caution,  lest  in  the  deep  darkness  which  enveloped 
him  he  should  fall  into  some  pit,  pond,  or  ditch.  In  about  ten 
minutes  he  reached  a  stile,  over  which  he  clambered ;  and 
he  now  found  himself  in  what  appeared  to  be  a  narrow  lane, 
on  the  other  side  of  which,  exactly  facing  the  stile,  stood  a 
small  building  from  one  of  whose  lower  windows  glimmered 
the  hght  that  had  guided  him  thither.  He  advanced  up  to 
the  door;  and  now  through  the  darkness  of  the  night  he 
beheld  an  object  hanging,  darker  than  the  darkness,  over 
his  head.  For  the  moment  an  indescribable  feehngof  alarm 
thrilled  coldly  through  his  frame,  for  it  struck  him  that  it 
was  a  human  corpse  thus  suspended  overhead.  But  the 
next  instant  he  perceived  by  its  shape,  and  also  by  the 
creaking  sound  it  sent  forth,  that  it  was  nothing  more  nor 
less  than  the  projecting  sign  of  an  inn,  or,  rather,  ale-house. 

Encouraged  by  this  discovery  in  proportion  as  he  had  just 
previously  been  terrified,  the  baronet  felt  assured  of  obtaining 
an  asylum  for  the  rest  of  the  night;  and  on  knocking  at 
the  door  it  was  almost  immediately  opened  by  a  stout,  red- 
faced  man,  with  rubicund  nose  and  a  drunken  leer,  both 
alike  indicating  a  love  of  strong  liquor.  There  could  con- 
sequently be  no  mistake  that  this  was  the  landlord,  and  Sir 
Douglas  at  once  requested  accommodation  for  the  night. 

"  Well,  I  don't  exactly  know  how  that  can  be,"  answered 
the  Boniface,  keeping  the  door  only  half-open,  with  his  own 
burly  form  filUng  up  the  interval,  while  the  Hght  from  within 
streamed  with  a  sort  of  Rembrandt  effect  upon  the  baronet, 
whose  personal  appearance  was  thus  plainly  visible  to  the 
landlord. 

How  do  you  mean  you  do  not  know  whether  you  can 
accommodate  me?  "  cried  Sir  Douglas.  "  Is  not  this  a  house 
of  public  entertainment?  " 

To  be  sure  it  is.  The  Jolly  Wagoner  is  well  knowed 
in  these  here  parts;  but  there's  been  a  steeplechase  in  the 
neighbourhood  to-day,  and  so,  you  see,  I  have  got  as  much 
company  as  I  can  well  accommodate." 

But  is  there  another  inn  or  tavern  near?  "  asked  the 
baronet,  in  a  tone  of  deep  vexation. 

"  No,  that  there  isn't,"  returned  the  landlord,  still  keeping 


378  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


fast  in  the  doorway.  "  But  where  do  you  come  from,  and 
how  is  it  you  are  out  so  late?  You  seem  a  stylish  kind  of 
gentleman,  notwithstanding." 

"  The  truth  is/'  answered  Sir  Douglas,  I  am  a  man  of 
rank  and  fortune.  My  carriage  has  been  robbed  by  a  set 
of  ruffians  on  Shooter's  Hill,  and  I  was  dragged  away  to  a 
hut  close  by.  There  I  should  have  been  murdered  were  it 
not  for  secret  intimation  given  me  by  a  young  woman  of 
her  companions'  diabolical  intentions.  Thanks  to  her,  my 
life  is  saved.  I  escaped,  and,  wandering  through  the  dark- 
ness, caught  a  glimpse  of  the  light  shining  from  your  window. 
Now,  then,  will  you  refuse  me  admission?  —  for  depend 
upon  it,  the  accommodation  which  I  seek  will  be  liberally 
recompensed.  If  you  wish  to  know  who  I  am,  my  name  is 
Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon." 

We  must  pause  for  an  instant  to  acquaint  our  readers 
that  every  syllable  of  this  explanation  was  overheard  by 
the  Hangman,  Sally  Melmoth,  and  Jack  the  Foundling,  who 
had  established  their  quarters  at  the  Jolly  Wagoner  for 
the  night.  They  had  not  as  yet  retired  to  rest,  but  had  been 
carousing  with  the  landlord  until  the  moment  the  baronet 
knocked  at  the  front  door.  As  he  gave  the  above  account 
of  his  adventures,  the  Hangman  and  his  companions  at  once 
comprehended  that  it  must  have  been  Bencull's  party  who 
had  waylaid  the  carriage,  and  they  hkewise  understood  that 
it  was  to  the  Mushroom  Faker's  hut  the  baronet  had  been 
dragged.  But  no  words  can  depict  their  astonishment 
when  they  further  gleaned  from  his  explanations  that  it 
could  have  been  none  other  than  Nell  Gibson  who  had 
given  him  the  private  information  which  induced  him  to 
escape.  The  Hangman  and  Sally  Melmoth  accordingly 
exchanged  looks  of  ominous  significancy  as  they  both 
muttered  the  name  of  Nell  Gibson,  and  Jack  the  Foundling 
seemed  equally  amazed  and  indignant  at  the  evident 
treachery  of  that  young  woman. 

Now  the  landlord  of  the  Jolly  Wagoner  was  neither  more 
nor  less  than  one  of  the  members  of  Daniel  Coffin's  extensive 
brotherhood  of  desperadoes;  and  therefore,  as  the  baronet 
revealed  the  details  of  his  adventures,  the  fellow  at  once 
understood  how  he  ought  to  act.  But  if  he  experienced  any 
indecision  on  the  point,  it  speedily  vanished  as  the  Hang- 
man^s  voice  reached  his  ears,  in  a  gruff  whisper  from  the 


FRESH  PERILS 


379 


fireplace  where  he  was  seated,  saying,  Let  him  in,  by  all 
means." 

The  landlord  coughed  aloud  in  order  to  prevent  that 
whisper  reaching  the  baronet;  and  assuming  an  air  of  pro- 
found civility,  he  said,  Pray  walk  in,  sir.  I  am  sorry 
that  a  gentleman  of  your  rank  and  consideration  should  have 
been  so  scurvily  treated  in  this  here  neighbourhood." 

Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  accordingly  entered  the  place; 
and  as  there  was  no  passage  of  any  kind,  he  at  once  found 
himself  in  what  may  be  called  the  parlour  or  tap-room  of 
that  httle  ale-house.  There  were  numerous  Windsor  chairs 
ranged  around  the  walls,  a  huge  deal  table  in  the  middle  of 
the  room,  several  spittoons  upon  the  sanded  floor,  and  a 
cheerful  fire  blazing  in  the  grate.  On  the  table  were  jugs 
of  ale,  a  tray  of  pipes,  and  a  paper  of  tobacco;  and  seated 
around  the  hearth  were  the  Hangman,  Sally  Melmoth,  and 
Jack  the  Foundhng. 

Daniel  Coffin  was  the  first  to  make  way  for  the  baronet, 
and  so  very  pohte  and  civil  was  he  that  Sir  Douglas  failed 
to  receive  any  evil  impression  from  his  particularly  sinister 
countenance.  The  landlord,  remarking  "  that  it  was  very 
cold,  and  that  his  guest  would  no  doubt  Hke  something 
warm,"  hastened  into  a  Httle  bar  parlour  opening  from  the 
end  of  the  room,  and  speedily  returned  with  a  reeking  tumbler 
of  brandy  and  water. 

And  so,  sir,  you  was  unfortunate  enough  to  get  robbed, 
was  you?  "  said  the  landlord,  as  he  resumed  his  own  seat 
in  the  chimney-corner.  "  Only  think,"  he  continued, 
addressing  himself  to  the  Hangman,  of  the  gentleman 
being  compelled  to  fly  for  his  hfe.  But  what  a  good  young 
woman  it  must  have  been  that  gave  him  such  a  hint." 

"  Yes,"  observed  Daniel  Coffin,  "  I  heard  the  gentleman 
telling  you  the  story  at  the  door  a  minute  ago,  and  I  thought 
to  myself  what  a  lucky  thing  it  was  he  got  off  so  nice.  But 
I  really  tremble  for  the  poor  young  woman,  in  case  she 
should  be  suspected  by  her  companions." 

''Ah!  you  may  well  say  that,"  exclaimed  the  landlord, 
taking  his  cue  from  the  Hangman's  words.  ''  The  rascals 
that  infest  this  here  neighbourhood  are  the  most  murderous, 
villainous  cutthroats  that  ever  was;  and  if  they  only  once 
as  much  as  suspected  the  young  woman  —  " 

"  Oh,  don't  talk  of  it!  "  cried  Sally  Melmoth,  pretending 


380  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


to  be  fearfully  shocked.  "  The  bare  idea  is  enough  to  make 
one's  blood  run  cold." 

"  Yes,  it  would  indeed  be  very  shocking/^  said  the  land- 
lord, shaking  his  head  with  awful  solemnity,  "  if  the  whole 
neighbourhood  was  frightened  to-morrow  morning  by  hear- 
ing that  the  poor  creature  was  murdered  in  that  terrible 
lonely  hut." 

"  Good  heavens!  "  cried  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  who 
had  listened  with  increasing  horror  and  dismay  to  this 
colloquy,  so  that  his  hair  literally  stood  on  end,  "is  it  pos- 
sible that  such  a  frightful  atrocity  —  " 

"  Possible  indeed!  "  ejaculated  the  Hangman,  "  ay,  and 
very  probable  too.  You  see,  sir,  I  am  a  farmer,  hving  in 
these  parts,  and  I  have  heard  too  much  already  of  the 
dreadful  character  of  the  villains  that  infest  Shooter's 
Hill." 

"  Villains  indeed.  Lord  have  mercy  upon  us!  "  said  the 
landlord,  looking  as  grave  and  solemn  as  his  semi-intoxicated 
condition  would  permit. 

Poor  thing,  poor  thing! "  observed  Sally  Melmoth, 
clasping  her  hands  in  apparent  dismay  at  the  picture  which 
her  imagination  was  conjuring  up.  Then  fixing  her  eyes 
with  fearful  meaning  upon  the  baronet,  she  said,  Ah! 
sir,  it  would  be  a  dreadful  thing  indeed  if  the  poor  young 
woman  who  has  just  saved  your  Ufe  should  lose  her  own 
on  that  very  account!  " 

"  By  heavens,  you  have  filled  me  with  excruciating  ter- 
rors! "  exclaimed  Sir  Douglas,  starting  from  his  seat.  "  I 
did  not  think  the  young  woman  would  run  such  a  dreadful 
risk,  or  else  not  for  worlds  would  I  have  abandoned  her  in  a 
cowardly  manner.  But  I  see  that  you  are  right,  they  are 
indeed  murderous  miscreants,  and  if  they  should  suspect 
the  poor  creature  —  " 

"  I  can't  sit  here  quiet,"  interrupted  the  Hangman,  also 
springing  from  his  seat,  while  perhaps  murder  is  being 
done.  No,  I  can't  do  it,"  he  cried,  with  an  air  and  tone  of 
blunt  honesty.  "  I'll  go,  even  if  I  go  alone,  and  prevent 
bloodshed  there." 

No,  brave  man,  you  shall  not  go  alone,"  exclaimed  the 
baronet,  seizing  Daniel  Coffin's  hand  and  pressing  it  with 
an  effusion  of  the  warmest  admiration  and  gratitude.  "  We 
will  go  together,  we  will  save  that  young  woman  if  she  be 


FRESH  PERILS 


381 


in  danger;  and,  at  any  rate,  we  will  take  her  away  from  her 
vile  companions.  See,  I  am  armed  with  a  knife,"  he  added, 
unbuttoning  his  coat,  and  displaying  the  weapon  which  he 
had  brought  away  with  him  from  the  hut. 

"  And  I've  fortunately  got  my  barkers  with  me,"  said 
the  Hangman,  producing  a  pair  of  pistols.  "  But  come, 
let  us  be  off.  Jack,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  Foundling, 
"  of  course  you  will  come  with  us.  The  more  we  are,  the 
stronger  we  shall  be." 

"  Oh,  you  shall  not  leave  me  behind,"  exclaimed  Sally 
Melmoth.  "  1  shall  go  with  you.  I  long  to  be  able  to  say 
a  kind  word  to  a  woman  who,  though  the  companion  of 
murderers,  has  dared  to  save  a  fellow  creature's  life  at  the 
hazard  of  her  own." 

Well,  you  are  a  brave  woman,  wife,"  said  the  Hang- 
man, pretending  to  tap  her  affectionately  on  the  counte- 
nance, "  and  so  you  shall  come.  Now,  then,  let  us  all  be  off." 

The  whole  of  this  colloquy  —  indeed,  the  entire  scene, 
from  the  instant  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  crossed  the 
threshold  of  the  Jolly  Wagoner  until  he  issued  forth  again  — 
scarcely  occupied  ten  minutes.  The  theme  of  the  discourse 
was  full  of  excitement  for  the  baronet,  and  he  found  himself 
hurried  away  by  a  torrent  of  terrible  misgivings  relative 
to  Nell  Gibson  on  the  one  hand,  and  a  chivalrous  anxiety 
to  redeem  his  character  from  any  imputation  of  cowardice 
on  the  other.  His  feeUngs,  therefore,  being  kept  in  a  whirl 
the  whole  time,  he  neither  had  calmness  enough  to  perceive 
that  there  was  anything  sinister  in  the  looks  of  his  new 
acquaintances,  nor  leisure  to  reflect  upon  the  honesty  of  their 
motives.  But  yielding  to  the  impulse  which  they  had  so 
artfully  given  to  his  feelings,  he  unhesitatingly  sallied  forth 
in  company  with  the  Hangman,  Sally  Melmoth,  and  Jack 
the  FoundUng. 

They  all  proceeded  across  the  fields,  the  Hangman  acting 
as  the  guide;  and  it  was  quite  evident  that,  despite  the 
Egyptian  darkness  which  prevailed,  he  was  well  acquainted 
with  the  path.  But  then.  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  remem- 
bered that  the  man  had  represented  himself  as  a  farmer 
belonging  to  the  district,  and  it  was  therefore  natural 
enough  that  he  should  be  thus  famiUar  with  every  inch  of 
the  locality.  They  advanced  at  a  pace  which  was  so  rapid 
as  to  sustain  the  hurry  of  the  baronet's  thoughts  and  the 


382  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


excitement  of  his  feelings,  and  thus  he  had  neither  leisure 
nor  scope  for  those  reflections  which  would  perhaps  have 
engendered  suspicions  in  his  mind  relative  to  the  integrity 
of  his  present  companions. 

There's  the  hut!  "  said  the  Hangman,  as  they  presently 
beheld  a  light  glimmering  ahead. 

Had  we  better  not  approach  with  considerable  caution?  " 
inquired  the  baronet. 

Yes,  let  us  creep  as  quiet  as  we  can  up  to  the  place," 
returned  CoflB.n. 

They  accordingly  advanced  stealthily;  and  as  they 
drew  nearer  they  observed  that  lights  were  burning  in  the 
room  above  as  well  as  in  the  apartment  below.  On  reach- 
ing the  hut,  they  peeped  through  one  of  the  windows  on 
the  ground  floor;  the  candles  were  flaring  with  long  wicks 
on  the  tables,  but  no  one  was  in  the  apartment. 

I  suppose  the  ruffians  are  all  out  looking  for  me,"  said 
the  baronet,  in  a  low  whisper. 

Most  likely,"  responded  the  Hangman.  "  Let  us  enter 
the  cottage." 

He  accordingly  opened  the  door  and  passed  in,  followed 
by  the  baronet,  Sally  Melmoth,  and  Jack  the  FoundUng. 

But  scarcely  had  the  party  thus  entered  the  hut  when  the 
Hangman  sprang  at  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  like  a  tiger 
darting  at  its  prey,  and  dashed  him  on  the  floor  with  such 
violence  that  he  was  stunned  by  the  ruffianly  outrage. 
The  Hangman  then  tore  open  the  baronet's  coat,  and  taking 
away  the  knife  which  Sir  Douglas  had  concealed  about  his 
person,  the  ruffian  flung  it  to  a  distance.  His  next  proceed- 
ing was  to  draw  forth  a  piece  of  rope  from  one  of  his  own 
capacious  pockets,  in  order  to  bind  the  baronet  hand  and 
foot. 

"  I'll  go  up-stairs  and  see  who's  there,"  said  Sally  Mel- 
moth, while  her  paramour  was  thus  employed.  Perhaps 
that  traitress  Nell  Gibson  is  up  above,  as  a  light  is  burning 
there,"  she  added. 

"  You  had  better  take  care,"  observed  the  Hangman. 
"  If  she  suspects  that  she's  found  out  she  may  do  you  a 
mischief;  for  she's  not  a  woman  to  give  in  easy,  I  can  tell 
you." 

"  Ah!  then  I  had  better  prepare  for  a  battle,"  exclaimed 
Sally;  and,  flinging  off  her  bonnet  and  cloak,  she  seized 


FRESH  PERILS 


383 


the  knife  in  one  hand  and  a  candle  in  the  other,  her  whole 
appearance  suddenly  denoting  the  natural  ferocity  of  her 
disposition  when  her  choler  was  once  excited.  Now  if 
that  she-devil,  who  I  always  hated  and  also  suspected, 
should  attempt  any  of  her  nonsense,  I'll  plunge  this  deep 
down  into  her  heart,"  and  she  brandished  the  knife  menac- 
ingly, her  countenance,  which  was  by  no  means  bad-looking, 
being  now  distorted  with  the  workings  of  diabolical  passions. 

Go  with  her.  Jack,"  said  Daniel  Coffin,  who  was  still 
employed  in  binding  the  baronet's  limbs.  "  I  must  make 
this  fellow  fast,  so  that  he  may  give  no  trouble  when  he 
comes  to  himself.  But  I  say,  Sal,  —  and  you  too,  Jack,  — 
mind,  no  murder  up  above  there.  If  you  find  Nell  Gibson, 
which  I  don't  suppose  you  will,  as  the  place  is  so  quiet, 
but  if  you  do,  I  say,  make  her  your  prisoner;  because  we 
will  wait  till  all  the  other  fellows  come  back  before  dealing 
with  either  her  or  this  baronet  here." 

But  before  he  had  even  finished  speaking  Sally  Melmoth 
had  ascended  the  stairs,  closely  followed  by  Jack  the  Found- 
ling. On  reaching  the  top  they  pushed  open  the  great 
clumsy  door,  and  bursting  in,  they  were  struck  with  amaze- 
ment on  beholding  a  young  creature  of  about  seventeen, 
and  of  exquisite  beauty,  sleeping  tranquilly  upon  the 
wretched  couch  spread  on  the  floor. 

We  should  now  observe  that  when  the  fair  stranger 
had  relapsed  into  a  state  of  unconsciousness,  in  the  manner 
already  described,  Nell  Gibson  had  done  her  best  to  restore 
her  to  life.  She  soon  succeeded,  but  so  weak  and  exhausted 
was  the  lovely  damsel  in  consequence  of  the  fall  she  had 
sustained  from  the  coach-top  that  she  only  awoke  from  a 
state  of  insensibility  to  fall  into  one  of  profound  slumber. 
Finding  that  she  thus  slept  calmly,  Nell  Gibson  had  returned 
to  her  seat  at  the  table, where  she  regaled  herself  with  another 
glass  of  brandy.  The  effects  of  the  Uquor  which  she  had 
imbibed  so  copiously  soon  exhibited  themselves  in  a  deep 
drowsiness,  and  she  fell  fast  asleep  in  a  sort  of  nook,  or 
recess,  where  the  table  stood.  So  sound  was  her  slumber 
that  she  had  not  heard  the  arrival  of  the  Hangman's  party, 
nor  even  the  noise  of  the  outrage  upon  the  baronet  in  the 
room  below;  but  when  the  door  of  the  upper  chamber  was 
burst  open  by  Sally  Melmoth  and  Jack  the  FoundUng, 
Nell  Gibson  awoke  from  her  nap. 


384  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


In  the  dulness  and  drowsiness  which  hung  about  her  after 
so  insufficient  an  amount  of  sleep,  and  with  the  fumes  of 
Uquor  still  obscuring  her  brain,  she  did  not  immediately 
observe  who  the  persons  were  thus  entering  the  chamber. 
But  in  a  few  moments  her  sight  grew  clearer,  her  ideas  more 
collected,  and,  rising  from  her  seat,  she  beheld  Sally  Mel- 
moth  and  Jack  the  FoundUng. 

Ah!  what,  are  you  here?  "  she  exclaimed,  addressing 
herself  familiarly  to  the  Hangman's  mistress;  but  instan- 
taneously perceiving  that  this  woman  carried  a  knife  in 
her  hand,  and  that  her  countenance  was  positively  hid- 
eous with  the  distortions  and  workings  of  dire  passion, 
Nell  Gibson  saw  that  something  was  wrong.  With  admir- 
able presence  of  mind,  however,  she  said,  "  What  is  the 
matter?  " 

"  Who  is  that  girl?  "  demanded  Sally,  glancing  down 
toward  the  fair  stranger. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  coming  up  here  to  me  with  that 
knife  in  your  hand  and  with  these  ferocious  looks?  "  asked 
Nell  Gibson,  her  own  spirit  rising  and  her  eyes  flashing  fire 
upon  the  Hangman's  mistress. 

But  before  any  further  words  were  exchanged  between 
the  two  women,  the  Hangman  himself,  having  finished 
binding  the  baronet's  limbs,  made  his  appearance  in  the 
chamber,  and  was  as  much  struck  as  Sally  Melmoth  and 
the  Foundling  had  been  on  observing  the  sweet  girl,  who, 
startled  by  the  sound  of  angry  voices,  was  now  opening  her 
eyes  in  alarm. 

Here  is  the  traitress! "  exclaimed  Sally  Melmoth, 
pointing  savagely  with  the  knife  toward  Nell  Gibson. 

"  Traitress!  who  do  you  dare  call  a  traitress?  "  cried  the 
young  woman,  fortified,  or,  rather,  rendered  desperate,  by 
the  brandy  she  had  imbibed  so  plentifully. 

''Ah!  we  have  got  your  baronet,  Miss  Nelly;  we  have 
brought  him  back  with  us,  I  can  tell  you,"  exclaimed  the 
Hangman's  mistress,  in  a  jeering  and  taunting  tone. 

A  livid  paleness  overspread  Nell  Gibson's  countenance 
as  she  saw  that  her  proceeding  of  that  night  with  regard  to 
Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  was  thus  positively  known;  and 
bold  though  she  naturally  was,  armed,  too,  as  she  now  Uke- 
wise  was  with  an  artificial  stimulant^  she  nevertheless  felt 
her  heart  sink  down  completely  within  her,  for  she  knew 


FRESH  PERILS 


385 


full  well  that  hers  was  a  treachery  which  her  companions  in 
crime  seldom  forgave,  and  the  punishment  of  which  was 
death! 

''Ah!  you  see  that  she  is  guilty  —  her  looks  betray  her!  " 
yelled  forth  the  infuriate  Sally  Melmoth;  and  raising  her 
knife,  she  sprang  like  a  tiger-cat  toward  Nell  Gibson,  who, 
cruelly  alarmed,  fled  screaming  horribly  into  the  nook 
where  the  table  stood. 

"Do  not  murder  her,  Sal!"  cried  the  Hangman,  in  a 
voice  of  thunder,  as  he  seized  upon  his  enraged  mistress 
and  threw  his  arms  around  her  to  hold  her  back,  while 
Jack  the  Foundling  proceeded  to  wrest  the  knife  from  her 
grasp. 

But  here  we  must  observe  that  although  only  just 
awakened  from  a  profound  slumber,  the  fair  stranger  was 
nevertheless  startled  into  the  fullest  consciousness  by  the 
fearful  scene  that  thus  suddenly  burst  upon  her  vision. 
Instantaneously  comprehending  that  instead  of  being 
beneath  some  hospitable  roof,  she  was  in  a  den  of  murderous 
miscreants,  the  affrighted  girl  sprang  up  from  the  bed  and 
rushed  to  the  door.  Terror,  the  keenest,  acutest,  most 
poignant  terror,  gave  her  wings  that  made  her  movements 
rapid  as  the  lightning  flash;  and  all  her  senses  being  sud- 
denly endowed  with  the  most  vivid  clearness,  in  this  moment 
of  life  or  death,  it  was  no  wonder  if  she  observed  that  on 
the  outer  side  of  the  chamber  door  there  was  a  large  bolt. 
With  admirable  presence  of  mind  she  dashed  the  door  to, 
and  with  her  taper  fingers  shot  the  bolt  into  its  socket; 
then  precipitating  herself  down  the  stairs,  not  knowing 
what  obstacles  she  might  have  to  encounter,  she  alighted 
in  the  chamber  below. 

At  first  it  struck  her  as  being  empty;  but  an  ejaculation 
of  mingled  surprise  and  entreaty  reached  her  ears,  and 
then  her  eyes  fell  upon  the  baronet,  who  had  just  returned 
to  consciousness.  Without  wasting  a  single  moment  in 
words,  the  courageous  girl  proceeded  to  action;  and  observ- 
ing that  a  cupboard  stood  open,  she  threw  a  rapid  glance 
upon  its  shelves.  A  knife  was  what  she  sought  for,  and  a 
knife  did  she  find  accordingly.  In  another  instant  she  was 
upon  her  knees,  cutting  the  cords  which  bound  the  baronet's 
limbs. 

It  was  a  moment  of  awful  suspense  and  excruciating 


386  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


alarm  for  both.  The  Hangman  was  thundering  at  the  door 
above,  evidently  dashing  himself  with  all  the  weight  of  his 
form  against  it,  while  the  process  of  cutting  the  cords  was 
calculated  to  occupy  nearly  a  minute.  A  minute!  Ah! 
it  is  nothing  in  the  ordinary  events  of  life,  but  it  is  an  age, 
an  entire  age,  when  life  itself  is  trembling  in  the  balance 
or  hanging  to  a  thread. 

But  now  the  last  piece  of  cord  is  cut,  the  bonds  fall  off 
the  baronet's  hmbs,  and  starting  to  his  feet,  he  grasps  the 
hand  of  his  fair  deliverer  with  an  effusion  of  gratitude  that 
is  in  itself  a  love,  a  worship,  a  devotion. 

Away,  dear  girl,  away!  "  he  cried,  retaining  that  fair 
hand  in  his  own,  that  he  might  guide  her  from  the  hut. 

At  the  same  instant  the  door  of  the  chamber  was  burst 
open;  but  with  such  fury  did  the  Hangman  precipitate 
himself  down  the  stairs,  that,  missing  the  steps,  he  fell 
heavily  from  top  to  bottom.  To  this  circumstance,  per- 
haps, did  the  baronet  and  his  fair  companion  owe  their 
safety;  for  as  they  darted  forth  from  the  hut,  plunging  into 
the  utter  darkness  of  the  night,  they  had  the  advantage  of 
the  few  moments  which  were  lost  by  Daniel  Coffin  in  picking 
himself  up  and  trying  his  limbs  to  feel  if  any  were  broken. 
Then  forth  he  sped  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives,  Sally  Melmoth 
and  Jack  the  Foundling  remaining  behind  him  to  keep 
guard  over  Nell  Gibson. 

Sir  Douglas  proceeded  at  random  as  he  guided  his  fair 
companion,  thinking  less  of  taking  any  special  direction 
than  of  placing  as  great  a  distance  as  possible  between 
themselves  and  the  hut.  Speedily  emerging  from  the  thicket, 
he  paused  for  an  instant  to  listen  whether  there  were  any 
sounds  of  pursuit;  but  he  could  hear  nothing  save  the 
heart-beatings  of  that  young  girl  who  now  clung  with 
apparent  exhaustion  to  his  arm. 

"  We  are  not  pursued,"  he  said,  in  a  hurried  whisper. 
"  Do  you  think  you  can  walk  a  Uttle  way  farther,  —  only 
a  little  way?  And  then  perhaps  we  shall  reach  some  place 
of  safety." 

"  Yes,  oh,  yes,"  she  murmured,  in  a  tone  that  neverthe- 
less was  fraught  with  the  accents  of  desperation.  "  I  feel 
that  I  am  sinking,  and  yet  I  must  proceed;  our  lives  depend 
upon  it." 

Oh,  for  God's  sake,  make  an  effort,  make  an  effort!  " 


FRESH  PERILS 


387 


whispered  the  baronet,  in  a  tone  of  intense  earnestness; 
and  scarcely  caring  for  himself  at  the  moment,  he  felt  as 
much,  yes,  as  profoundly,  for  this  sweet  girl  as  if  she  were  a 
beloved  sister  or  one  whom  he  had  long  loved  and  who 
was  to  become  his  wife. 

They  advanced  again,  his  arm  thrown  around  her  slender 
waist  to  support  her;  and  in  this  manner  they  proceeded  for 
about  ten  minutes.  Their  eyes,  growing  accustomed  to 
the  deep  darkness,  enabled  them  to  distinguish  the  obscure 
outlines  of  the  path  which  they  were  pursuing;  and  to  the 
joy  of  the  baronet  he  found  that  they  were  rapidly  nearing 
the  main  road.  But  his  fair  companion  now  grew  so  faint 
that  she  clung  to  him  Uke  a  dead  weight,  and  he  had  to 
carry  rather  than  support  her.  That  sudden  flaming  up 
of  her  courage,  her  spirit,  and  her  presence  of  mind  in  the 
hut  had  led  to  a  reaction  which  was  gradually  prostrating 
her  completely;  and  by  the  time  they  emerged  from  the 
fields  into  the  highroad  the  baronet  was  made  painfully 
aware  that  she  was  fainting  in  his  arms. 

At  this  moment  the  sounds  of  rapidly  approaching 
wheels  were  head,  and  coming,  too,  in  the  same  direction 
which  they  were  pursuing.  In  a  few  moments  the  lights  of 
a  vehicle  appeared,  and  on  the  baronet  hailing  it,  to  his 
joy  it  proved  to  be  a  return  post-chaise  journeying  empty 
to  London. 

We  need  hardly  say  that  he  took  immediate  possession 
of  it,  carefully  placing  his  fair  companion  upon  the  cushions 
inside;  and  on  reaching  London,  she  was  consigned  in  a 
state  of  alarming  exhaustion  to  the  care  of  the  baronet's 
housekeeper,  Mrs.  Baines. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 


THE  INTERESTING  INVALID 

After  a  profound  slumber  of  some  hours'  duration,  the 
fair  stranger  awoke  to  find  herself  lying  on  a  comfortable 
couch,  in  a  handsomely  furnished  chamber,  and  with  a 
motherly-looking  person  standing  by  the  bedside.  The 
heavy  curtains  were  drawn  over  the  windows,  and  the  room 
was  darkened,  evidently  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the 
invahd's  slumber  being  disturbed  by  a  glare  of  light;  but 
through  an  opening  in  the  drapery  stole  a  golden  beam  of 
the  sun,  and  thus  the  damsel  knew  that  it  was  broad  day- 
light without. 

Then,  as  a  crowd  of  memories  rushed  into  her  brain,  a 
strong  shuddering  shook  her;  and  it  seemed  as  if  some 
source  of  ineffable  anguish  were  rending  her  very  heart- 
strings. 

"  My  poor  girl,  what  ails  you?  What  do  you  feel?  " 
asked  Mrs.  Baines,  bending  over  her  and  speaking  in  a  tone 
accompanied  with  a  look  of  such  true  maternal  kindness 
that  the  tears  gushed  out  from  the  maiden's  eyes,  as  if  all 
the  founts  of  her  tenderest  and  deepest  feelings  were  opened. 
"  You  have  something  that  troubles  you  very  much,  my 
dear  child,  something  that  afflicts  you  sorely,"  continued 
the  housekeeper.  I  do  not  ask  you  to  reveal  to  me  your 
secrets ;  but  remember  that  you  saved  the  life  of  my  master, 
Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  and  therefore,  through  a  feeling 
of  gratitude,  if  for  no  other  motive,  am  I  anxious  and  ready 
to  do  anything  to  serve  you." 

The  fair  girl  gazed  up  with  a  look  of  unspeakable  feeling 
at  Mrs.  Baines,  and  then  her  lips  moved  as  if  a  revelation 
were  wavering  upon  them;  but  whether  it  were  so  or  not 
the  good  woman  could  not  precisely  tell.    At  all  events, 

388 


THE  INTERESTING  INVALID  389 


before  the  invalid  had  time  to  utter  a  word,  the  door  opened 
and  Doctor  Copperas  entered  the  room. 

^'  Ah!  here  is  the  doctor/'  whispered  Mrs.  Baines  to  the 
invahd.  Then  turning  toward  the  physician,  she  said, 
"  I  am  glad  you  have  come,  sir,  for  this  poor  dear  girl  here 
seems  dreadfully  exhausted." 

Well,  Mrs.  Baines,  we  shall  soon  put  her  to  rights," 
said  the  physician,  seating  himself  by  the  bedside  and  pro- 
ceeding to  feel  the  damsel's  pulse.  Sir  Douglas  sent  for 
me  three  or  four  hours  ago  —  indeed,  at  nine  o'clock  this 
morning,  I  beheve." 

Yes,  sir,"  observed  Mrs.  Baines,  "  and  now  it  is  past 
midday." 

"  True,  but  I  was  at  a  consultation  with  that  very  remark- 
able and  extraordinary  man.  Doctor  Thurston.  Indeed,  Mrs. 
Baines,  if  it  were  possible  to  change  conditions  in  this 
world,  and  if  I  had  my  choice,  I  think  I  would  sooner  be 
Doctor  Thurston  than  any  one  I  know." 

Well,  sir,  this  is  most  singular,"  observed  the  house- 
keeper; ''for  I  remember  that  about  six  weeks  ago,  when 
our  coachman  broke  his  leg  and  you  were  out  of  town  at 
the  time.  Sir  Douglas  called  in  Doctor  Thurston,  and  I 
recollect  that  the  doctor  whispered  to  me,  after  he  had  given 
his  opinion  on  the  case,  that  it  was  precisely  one  which  you, 
sir,  ought  to  have  superintended." 

''  Did  he,  though?  Well,  that  is  very  remarkable,"  cried 
Doctor  Copperas,  affecting  to  be  quite  amazed.  Then  turn- 
ing to  the  fair  stranger,  he  said,  ''  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon 
has  just  explained  to  me  ail  the  incidents  of  the  preced- 
ing night  so  far  as  they  relate  to  himself.  Had  you  been 
long  in  that  hut  whence  you  both  escaped  so  marvel- 
lously, and  had  you  been  ill-treated  during  your  stay 
there?  " 

''  I  had  not  been  there,  sir,  more  than  an  hour  or  two," 
was  the  answer,  ''  when  the  incidents  occurred  which  led 
to  our  escape,  and  I  certainly  received  no  harsh  nor  severe 
treatment."  Then,  after  a  short  pause,  the  damsel  con- 
tinued to  observe,  ''  I  had  taken  my  place  on  the  outside 
of  the  night-coach  for  Dover,  it  was  upset  on  Shooter's 
Hill,  and  I  must  have  been  stunned  by  the  fall,  for  I  remem- 
ber nothing  more  until  I  awoke  in  that  hut." 

"  Excuse  the  question  I  am  about  to  ask,"  said  Doctor 


390  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Copperas.  "  Had  you  previously  been  suffering  from  priva- 
tions or  sorrows? 

But  the  damsel  suddenly  burst  into  tears,  and  the 
physician,  although  by  no  means  of  tender  disposition, 
was  touched  by  this  eloquent  yet  silent  response  to  his 
query. 

Ah!  poor  girl  —  exhaustion  —  general  debility  —  too 
great  excitement  —  fearful  reaction,"  muttered  the  doctor 
to  himself.  "  Well,  you  will  be  taken  care  of  here,  and  I 
shall  come  and  see  you  again  in  the  evening.  Now,  Mrs. 
Baines,  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  if  you  please,  and  draw  the 
curtain  a  little." 

The  housekeeper  hastened  to  obey  these  instructions, 
and  Doctor  Copperas  proceeded  to  write  the  prescription, 
observing  as  he  did  so  "  that  he  felt  convinced  he  was 
about  to  adopt  the  very  same  treatment  which  that  eminent 
and  remarkable  man.  Doctor  Thurston,  would  have  recom- 
mended had  he  been  called  in." 

Having  concluded  his  Esculapian  hieroglyphics,  he  turned 
toward  the  bed,  saying,  in  a  bland  tone  of  inquiry,  And 
now,  what  is  the  name  of  my  interesting  patient?  " 

At  the  instant  that  the  doctor  began  the  first  words  of 
his  question,  the  damsel's  cheeks  were  colourless  as  alabaster; 
but  scarcely  had  the  final  syllables  fallen  from  his  lips  when 
all  the  blood  in  her  veins  seemed  to  rush  to  her  countenance, 
suffusing  it  with  the  deepest  crimson. 

Ah!  my  dear  child,"  cried  Mrs.  Baines,  "  if  the  doctor 
has  said  anything  indiscreet,  do  not  annoy  yourself.  God 
knows  you  can  bear  no  more  excitement!  I  am  sure  when 
you  were  brought  home  here  at  three  o'clock  this  morning, 
in  such  a  state  of  exhaustion  that  you  could  not  speak,  and 
your  very  reason  seemed  to  be  abandoning  you  —  But, 
heavens!  "  ejaculated  the  housekeeper,  suddenly  interrupt- 
ing herself  as  a  fresh  torrent  of  tears  now  gushed  out  from 
the  poor  girl's  eyes,  "  what  ails  you,  my  dear  child,  what 
ails  you?  " 

The  damsel  could,  however,  give  no  response,  even  if  she 
wished  to  do  so;  her  voice  was  lost  in  deep  and  suffocating 
sobs.  But,  looking  up  with  an  expression  of  ineffable  grati- 
tude upon  her  countenance,  she  took  Mrs.  Baines's  hand 
and  pressed  it  to  her  lips. 

"  There,  there,"  said  Doctor  Copperas,  "  I  am  afraid  I 


THE  INTERESTING  INVALID  391 


said  something  indiscreet;  but  I  would  not  wound  the 
poor  girl's  feelings  for  the  world.  As  for  the  prescription,  I 
have  made  it  out  in  the  name  of  Miss  Smith,  which,  by 
the  by,  is  the  name  that  in  similar  circumstances  is  invari- 
ably adopted  by  that  ornament  of  the  profession.  Doctor 
Thurston." 

Doctor  Copperas  now  took  his  leave,  and  when  he  was 
gone,  Mrs.  Baines  addressed  the  invaUd  in  the  kindest  and 
most  endearing  manner  that  she  could  possibly  adopt;  for 
the  housekeeper  was  indeed  an  excellent-hearted  and  worthy 
woman,  and  though  in  the  service  of  a  master  renowned  for 
his  dissipated  habits  and  rakish  conduct,  she  herself  was 
of  unimpeachable  respectabihty. 

"  Now,  my  dear  girl,"  she  said,  bending  over  the  couch 
and  whispering  with  soothing  softness  of  tone  in  the  invalid's 
ear,  you  have  some  secret  grief  which  is  gnawing  at  your 
very  heart's  core.  I  do  not  ask  you  to  tell  me  what  it  is; 
but  I  do  ask  you  to  tell  me  if  there  is  anything  that  can  be 
done  to  alleviate  it.  Should  you  choose  to  trust  me,  you 
would  find  that  I  would  go  fifty  miles  to  serve  you,  but 
not  raise  a  finger  to  injure  you.  I  saw  plain  enough  that 
you  did  not  hke  to  mention  your  name,  but  I  am  sure  that 
if  there  is  any  harm  attached  thereto,  it  is  not  you  yourself 
who  have  brought  the  stain  upon  it.  No,  there  is  innocence 
in  your  looks,  the  candour  of  purity  upon  your  brow.  Ah! 
and  the  manner  in  which  you  now  regard  me  proves  that  I 
am  right  in  beheving  you  to  be  the  dear  good  girl  I  hoped 
and  wished  the  first  instant  I  saw  you.  But  even  if  you  had 
done  anything  wrong,  there  is  forgiveness  to  be  obtained. 
Oh,  now  I  see  again,  by  that  deprecating  look  so  softly 
earnest,  that  it  is  not  so.  No,  you  are  all  that  is  good  — 
I  am  certain  you  are.  Tell  me,  then,  dear  child,  what  can 
be  done  for  you;  and  recollect  that  my  master  owes  you  so 
deep  a  debt  of  gratitude  there  is  no  trouble  he  would  shun 
and  no  expense  he  would  spare  to  render  you  a  service 
and  lighten  your  heart  of  the  load  of  affliction." 

"  My  kindest,  best  friend,"  exclaimed  the  invalid,  throw- 
ing her  arms  around  the  neck  of  the  good  housekeeper, 
"  I  will  tell  you  everything.  Yes,  I  will  tell  you  all,  and 
then  you  will  comprehend  wherefore  I  am  unhappy,  why  I 
am  tortured  with  a  devouring  suspense,  and  also  why  I 
hesitated  to  mention  a  name  which,  nevertheless,  God 


392  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


knows,  has  never  been  disgraced  by  me.  But  oh,  before  I 
commence  my  narrative,  let  me  beg  of  you,  let  me  implore 
you  to  grant  me  a  boon." 

Speak,  dear  child!  "  exclaimed  the  housekeeper.  "  What 
is  it? 

Will  you  procure  me  a  newspaper  of  to-day?  "  said  the 
fair  stranger,  in  a  low,  soft  tone,  as  if  she  even  hesitated 
to  solicit  so  trifling  a  favour. 

In  a  moment,"  cried  Mrs.  Baines;  and  disappearing 
from  the  room  for  a  short  time,  she  returned  with  a  morning 
journal,  saying,  "  Sir  Douglas  always  takes  this  newspaper, 
and  therefore  it  was  handy  in  the  house  at  the  moment." 

But  while  she  was  thus  speaking,  the  invaUd,  with  a 
sudden  access  of  frenzied  excitement,  had  snatched,  or, 
indeed,  rather  torn  the  journal  from  the  matron's  hand; 
and  sitting  up  in  the  bed,  as  if  that  feverish  excitement  had 
nerved  her  with  sudden  strength,  she  ran  her  eye  over  the 
columns  with  the  breathless  suspense  and  excruciating 
uncertainty  of  one  who  is  about  to  behold  the  clearing  up 
of  a  matter  of  life  or  death. 

"  Thank  God,"  she  exclaimed,  "  he  is  safe!  " 

Then,  as  if  this  sudden  acquirement  of  a  certainty  and 
abrupt  term  to  a  harrowing  suspense  were  to  be  followed 
by  a  reaction  proportionately  strong  and  painful,  she  fell 
back  in  a  state  of  utter  prostration  aUke  of  mind  and  body. 
Mrs.  Baines  hastened  to  administer  a  cordial  and  apply 
other  restoratives,  but  hours  elapsed,  and  evening  was 
drawing  its  veil  of  obscurity  over  the  hemisphere,  before 
the  invahd  had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  enabled  to  converse 
again.  Then,  with  only  a  few  brief  words  of  preface,  to  the 
the  effect  that  she  yearned  to  unbosom  the  secrets  that  lay 
heavy  upon  her  soul,  the  poor  girl  poured  forth  her  revela- 
tions to  the  friendly  ear  of  the  matron. 

Two  hours  later,  indeed,  at  about  nine  o'clock  that  same 
evening,  Mrs.  Baines  and  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  were 
closeted  together  in  earnest  deliberation. 

Ariadne  Varian,"  said  the  baronet,  repeating  the  words 
several  times.  "  How  prettily  the  name  sounds!  It  is 
really  most  appropriate  for  such  a  charming  creature.  Do 
you  know,  Mrs.  Baines,  that  I  really  feel  —  But  no  matter," 
he  exclaimed,  suddenly  interrupting  himself. 


THE  INTERESTING  INVALID  393 


"  Ah!  sir,  I  know  what  you  were  going  to  say,"  observed 
the  housekeeper,  "  and  really  if  you  would  not  think  it  rude 
nor  unbecoming  on  my  part,  I  should  so  earnestly  advise 
you  to  think  of  marriage." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  the  baronet,  laughing,  "  I  suppose 
I  must  think  of  it  some  day  or  another.  But  let  me  read 
over  again  this  paragraph  relative  to  poor  Ariadne's  brother; 
and  then  you  shall  tell  me,  at  full  length  and  in  detail,  all 
those  incidents  that  you  have  gleaned  from  her  lips  and 
which  you  have  as  yet  only  sketched  so  briefly  to  me." 

"  Please  to  read  the  passage  aloud,  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Baines, 

for  I  only  glanced  hurriedly  over  it  just  now." 

Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  accordingly  took  up  the  news- 
paper and  read  aloud  the  ensuing  passage: 

"  It  will  be  in  the  recollection  of  our  readers  that  at  the 
last  sessions  of  the  Old  Bailey  a  respectable-looking  and 
genteel  young  man,  named  Theodore  Varian,  was  sen- 
tenced to  transportation  for  seven  years  for  embezzling 
moneys  and  falsifying  accounts  while  in  the  service  of  Mr. 
Emmerson,  the  well-known  stock-broker  of  Birchin  Lane. 
On  the  trial,  it  will  be  borne  in  mind,  the  young  man  pleaded 
guilty,  and  told  a  somewhat  pathetic  tale  relative  to  having 
made  free  with  his  master's  money  to  pay  debts  contracted 
during  a  beloved  sister's  illness.  Up  to  this  point  the 
sympathy  of  the  whole  court  had  been  evidently  in  his 
favour;  but  it  will  be  remembered  that  he  proceeded  to 
accuse  Mr.  Emmerson  of  having  held  out  threats  and  made 
infamous  proposals  relative  to  his  sister.  As  a  matter  of 
course,  Mr.  Emmerson  indignantly  denied  the  imputation; 
and  the  learned  recorder,  to  whom  Mr.  Emmerson's  high 
character  in  the  City  is  of  course  well  known,  told  the 
prisoner  very  plainly  that  all  previous  sympathy  excited  in 
his  behalf  was  not  merely  destroyed,  but  was  succeeded 
by  loathing  and  contempt  for  this  base  endeavour  to  calum- 
niate his  employer.  Hence  the  severe  sentence  of  seven 
years'  transportation  which  his  lordship  deemed  it  right  to 
pass  upon  the  prisoner. 

"  We  have  recapitulated  these  facts  which  were  before 
published  in  our  columns  in  order  to  remind  our  readers 
of  the  artful  cunning  and  unprincipled  disposition  of  this 
young  man,  whose  external  appearance  and  genteel  man- 
ners at  first  enlisted  so  much  sympathy  in  his  favour.  And 


394  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


if  any  further  proof  were  wanted  of  the  right  estimate 
which  the  learned  recorder  formed  of  his  consummate 
dupHcity,  such  proof  will  be  found  in  the  occurrence  we 
are  about  to  relate.  In  a  word,  this  Theodore  Varian 
escaped  from  Newgate  last  night  in  a  very  remarkable 
manner.  It  appears  that  during  the  day  the  order  had  been 
received  for  the  removal  of  himself  and  other  convicts  to 
Woolwich,  preparatory  to  their  departure  for  the  penal 
settlement.  As  the  order  arrived  suddenly,  the  convicts 
were  permitted  to  see  their  friends  until  a  late  hour  last 
evening;  and  it  is  remembered  by  the  gaol  authorities 
that  Theodore  Varian  was  visited  by  his  sister,  who  was 
clad  in  an  ample  cloak.  At  nine  o'clock  the  bell  rang  as  a 
signal  for  all  visitors  to  depart;  and  as  there  were  some 
fifty  or  sixty  strangers,  male  and  female,  at  the  time,  it 
is  supposed  that  Varian  must  have  suddenly  slipped  on  his 
sister's  cloak,  and  probably  a  bonnet  and  veil,  which  it 
would  have  been  easy  for  her  to  conceal  under  that  cloak. 
At  all  events,  shortly  after  the  strangers  had  departed, 
Theodore  Varian  was  missed;  and  the  above  explanation 
is  the  only  solution  that  can  be  given  as  to  the  mode  of 
escape.  Up  to  the  hour  of  going  to  press,  we  have  not 
heard  of  his  recapture." 

And  the  conjecture,  then,  relative  to  the  method  of 
the  escape,  is  the  right  one,"  said  the  baronet,  as  he  laid 
down  the  newspaper.  "  But  you  must  now  give  me  all  the 
details  of  Ariadne's  narrative." 

"  With  much  pleasure,  sir,"  repUed  Mrs.  Baines.  It 
appears  that  Theodore  and  Ariadne  are  orphans,  and  that 
they  entertain  the  sincerest  affection  for  each  other,  —  an 
affection  not  only  natural  in  consequence  of  the  ties  of 
brother  and  sister,  but  also  strengthened  by  the  keen 
appreciation  of  that  orphan  lot  which  they  have  together 
endured  from  childhood.  It  is  true  that  Theodore  self- 
appropriated  some  of  Mr.  Emmerson's  money;  and  I  feel 
confident  it  is  also  true  that  the  hard-hearted,  griping,  greedy 
citizen  did  tell  the  unhappy  Theodore  that  if  within  three 
days  he  did  not  prepare  his  sister  to  surrender  her  honour, 
the  worst  should  ensue.  This  was  toward  the  close  of 
September,  and  for  the  three  following  days  Ariadne  says 
that  her  poor  brother  seemed  to  be  frenzied  with  grief. 
It  was  not  until  the  third  night  that  he  revealed  to  his  sister 


THE  INTERESTING  INVALID  395 


the  horrors  of  his  position  and  the  deeper  infamy  into  which 
Emmerson  tried  to  plunge  them  both.  Ariadne  was  at  first 
distracted,  but  in  a  short  time  the  natural  strength  of  her 
character  enabled  her  to  speak  with  calmness  upon  the 
position  in  which  herself  and  unhappy  brother  were  involved. 
To  be  brief,  they  saw  no  alternative  but  flight;  and  having 
hastily  disposed  of  everything  salable,  and  thus  reduced 
the  amount  of  their  worldly  possessions  to  the  compass  of 
two  small  bundles  containing  changes  of  raiment,  they  fled 
from  the  metropolis." 

"  Poor  orphans!  "  said  the  baronet,  in  a  low  tone  and 
with  an  involuntary  sigh.  But  go  on,  Mrs.  Baines,  go 
on." 

"  They  got  a  lift  in  some  vehicle  as  far  as  Hounslow, 
where  they  passed  the  night.  In  the  next  room  to  the  one 
where  Varian  slept  two  persons  of  evidently  queer  character 
were  lodged,  and  not  being  aware  that  the  partition  was  so 
thin  as  it  was,  they  conversed  unrestrainedly.  Theodore 
could  not  help  hearing  every  word  they  said,  and  he  found 
that  they  were  two  highwayman.  They  were  boasting  of 
their  exploits,  and  from  what  they  said  it  appeared  that 
there  was  always  a  much  better  chance  of  an  offender  against 
the  laws  concealing  himself  in  London  than  in  any  country 
districts.  In  fine,  their  discourse  made  such  an  impression 
upon  Theodore  that  he  resolved  to  retrace  his  way  to  the 
capital.  In  the  morning  he  communicated  to  his  sister  all 
he  had  overheard,  and  the  resolution  he  had  formed  in 
consequence;  and  accordingly,  when  night  came  again, 
they  returned  to  London.  Hiding  themselves  in  a  garret 
in  some  low  neighbourhood,  they  passed  a  fortnight  in  a 
state  of  continual  terrors,  apprehensions,  and  alarms. 
They  also  lived  most  frugally,  even  miserably,  in  order  to 
eke  out  their  scanty  resources.  Poor  orphans!  how  often 
and  often  must  their  tears  have  been  mingled  as  they 
thought  of  the  present  and  the  past,  but  dared  not  look 
forward  to  the  future.  Oh,  it  makes  my  heart  bleed  to 
think  what  this  dear  sweet  girl  must  have  suffered.  Is  it 
not  shocking,  sir,  that  such  a  heavenly  creature,  such  an 
angelic  being,  should  be  doomed  to  know  such  bitter  afflic- 
tion? Only  fancy  those  soft  azure  eyes  weeping  such 
bitter  tears,  only  fancy  those  lovely  pale  cheeks,  just  like 
damask,  being  scalded  with  floods  of  anguish!    Ah!  and 


396 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


fancy,  too,  that  those  Hps  which  look  Uke  rosebuds  should 
ever  wreathe  otherwise  than  in  the  sunniest  smiles." 

"  Mrs.  Baines,  you  are  growing  quite  poetical,"  said  the 
baronet,  who  was  in  reality  deeply  affected.  "  Come,  pray 
proceed,"  he  observed,  hurriedly.  "  You  were  telling  me 
how  this  poor  girl  and  her  brother  lived  for  a  fortnight  in 
that  wretched  garret.  Pshaw!  "  he  suddenly  cried,  "  what 
the  deuce  is  the  meaning  of  this?  "  and  he  dashed  a  tear 
from  his  eye. 

Shall  I  give  you  a  glass  of  wine,  sir?  "  asked  Mrs.  Baines, 
perceiving  that  he  was  profoundly  touched,  and  thinking 
that  he  required  something  to  console  him. 

No,  not  a  drop,  I  thank  you,  I  never  was  less  in  a 
humour  to  drink  in  my  hfe,"  he  exclaimed.  Pray  go 
on." 

Well,  sir,  at  the  end  of  that  fortnight  the  young  man 
resolved  to  make  an  endeavour  to  find  employment  under 
another  name.  He  accordingly  went  out  to  seek  for  such 
employment;  but  as  several  hours  passed  and  he  did  not 
return,  poor  Ariadne  could  no  longer  restrain  the  terrors 
that  were  devouring  her.  She  rushed  forth  wildly  to  seek 
for  him,  to  make  inquiries  after  him;  and  she  soon  learned 
the  fatal  truth.  He  had  been  arrested,  taken  before  the 
lord  mayor,  and  committed  to  Newgate.  O  God!  I  can 
enter  fully  and  deeply  into  the  anguish  which  the  poor 
girl  must  have  experienced  as  these  terrible  tidings  burst 
upon  her.  Of  course  I  need  not  say  that  from  the  day  of 
his  arrest  to  that  of  his  escape  she  visited  him  as  often  and 
remained  with  him  as  long  as  the  prison  regulations  would 
allow.  The  sessions  were  being  held  at  the  time  when  he 
was  arrested,  and  he  was  tried  a  few  days  after.  This  was 
a  month  ago.  You  have  seen,  sir,  by  the  newspaper,  that 
he  pleaded  guilty,  and  that  he  was  condemned  to  seven 
years'  transportation.  If  he  had  not  told  the  truth  about 
Emmerson's  infamous  proposals,  he  would  perhaps  only 
have  had  two  years'  imprisonment;  but  because  he  boldly 
endeavoured  to  unmask  the  villain,  the  judge  threw  aside 
all  sympathy." 

"  You  see,  Mrs.  Baines,  Emmerson  is  a  man  of  wealth,^' 
observed  the  baronet,  "  a  man  of  high  standing  in  the  City, 
a  member  of  the  common  council,  too,  and,  what  is  more, 
a  staunch  Tory.  Besides  which,  he  has  got  a  splendid  house 


THE  INTERESTING  INVALID  397 


at  Clapham,  and  no  doubt  the  recorder  frequently  dines 
with  him.  So  you  perceive  it  is  easy  to  account  for  the 
judge's  behaviour  on  the  bench  in  Theodore  Variants  case. 
But  now  for  the  rest  of  your  narrative." 

"  A  few  more  words  will  conclude  it,  sir,"  said  Mrs. 
Baines.  "  From  the  moment  of  Variants  condemnation, 
he  and  his  sister  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  discussing  the 
possibility  of  his  escape.  The  hope  of  effecting  this  alone 
sustained  them.  Ariadne  tells  me  that  she  has  lain  awake 
whole  nights,  pondering  upon  the  chances  for  and  against 
such  a  consummation.  She  says  that  for  hours  and  hours 
her  thoughts  have  never  wandered  away  from  this  one 
subject.  At  length  the  plan  was  settled,  and  yesterday  was 
the  day  for  carrying  it  into  execution.  Having  half-starved 
herself  to  eke  out  her  scanty  resources,  the  poor  girl  had 
just  sufficient  to  enable  her  to  pay  her  own  coach-fare  to 
Dover,  and  afford  her  brother  a  few  shillings  to  purchase 
food  during  his  journey  thither.  The  newspaper  tells  you 
how  the  escape  was  accompHshed.  No  sooner  did  Ariadne 
find  that  the  project  had  succeeded,  and  that  her  brother, 
disguised  in  the  cloak  and  bonnet,  was  safe  outside  the 
terrible  doors  of  Newgate,  than  she  almost  went  mad  with 
the  delirium  of  joy.  But  she  was  compelled  to  part  immedi- 
ately from  Theodore,  for  fear  of  exciting  suspicion  and 
affording  a  trace  for  pursuers;  and  while  he  set  off  on  foot 
on  his  journey  to  Dover,  the  young  maiden  took  her  place 
outside  the  night-coach.  Of  course  their  ultimate  intention 
was  to  escape  over  to  France,  the  captain  of  one  of  the  hoys 
plying  between  Dover  and  Calais  being  well  acquainted 
with  the  Varians  and  well  disposed  toward  them.  In  con- 
clusion, sir,"  added  Mrs.  Baines,  let  me  observe  that  when 
poor  Ariadne  entreated  for  a  sight  of  the  newspaper,  it  was 
to  ascertain  whether  her  brother  had  got  safe  away  or  had 
been  recaptured  after  she  parted  from  him." 

"  And  you  have  got  the  exact  address  where  she  was  to 
meet  her  brother  at  Dover?  "  said  the  baronet,  inquir- 
ingly. 

"  I  wrote  it  down  on  this  slip  of  paper  from  Ariadne's 
own  lips,"  responded  Mrs.  Baines,    and  here  it  is." 

"  Well,  I  wonder  now  whether  that  fellow  James  is  ready 
to  take  his  departure,"  cried  the  baronet,  looking  at  his 
watch.    "  It  is  nine  o'clock." 


398  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


But  at  this  moment  the  door  opened,  and  the  valet 
James  made  his  appearance,  muffled  up  as  for  a  journey. 

"  Now,  James,"  said  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  in  a  serious 
tone,  "  I  can  of  course  rely  upon  you,  as  this  matter  is  one 
not  only  of  delicacy  but  also  most  confidentially  sacred. 
You  will  travel  with  all  possible  speed  to  Dover,  and  there 
you  will  seek  this  address,"  continued  the  baronet,  placing 
the  sHp  of  paper  in  the  servant's  hands.  "  You  will  ask  for 
Theodore  Varian,  and  when  you  mention  the  name  of 
Ariadne  as  a  pass-word  you  will  obtain  access  to  the  same 
Theodore.  You  will  then  give  him  this  purse,  and  urge 
him  to  lose  no  time  in  escaping  to  Calais.  Tell  him  that 
his  sister  has  found  kind  friends  in  London,  and  that,  more- 
over, measures  will  be  taken  to  obtain  a  free  pardon  for 
himself.  You  may  add  that  in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two  his 
sister  will  write  to  him  full  particulars,  addressed  to  the 
post-office  in  Calais." 

The  baronet  placed  a  heavy  purse  in  the  hands  of  his 
faithful  servant,  who  forthwith  took  his  departure  in  a 
post-chaise  for  Dover;  and  the  moment  he.  was  gone  Mrs. 
Baines  returned  to  Ariadne's  chamber.  The  fair  invalid 
was  just  awaking  from  a  deep  slumber  in  which  the  good 
housekeeper  had  left  her  ere  now;  and  the  assurance  that 
the  messenger  had  departed  to  meet  her  brother  at  Dover 
relieved  her  gentle  breast  of  its  chief  anxiety.  Doctor 
Copperas  presently  paid  her  another  visit,  and  declared 
that  she  was  going  on  as  favourably  as  he  could  expect, 
adding  aside  to  Mrs.  Baines,  "  that  he  did  not  think  she 
could  have  progressed  better  since  midday,  even  if  under 
the  care  of  that  eminent  and  distinguished  man,  Doctor 
Thurston." 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 


THE  RAKE  AND  THE  RAKE's  VICTIM 

Scarcely  had  Mrs.  Baines  quitted  the  apartment  where 
she  had  been  conversing  with  the  baronet,  when  a  domestic 
entered  to  state  that  a  female  desired  to  speak  with  him 
upon  important  business.  Not  knowing  who  she  might  be, 
and  never  refusing  a  female  visit,  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon 
ordered  her  to  be  admitted.  A  woman,  somewhat  flauntingly 
dressed  and  with  a  dark  veil  over  her  countenance,  was 
shown  in;  but  the  instant  she  crossed  the  threshold,  and 
even  before  she  raised  the  veil,  the  baronet  guessed  who  she 
was.  Nor  was  he  mistaken,  for,  advancing  toward  him, 
she  Hfted  her  veil  and  disclosed  the  features  of  Nell  Gibson. 

''Ah!  I  am  glad  you  are  come,  I  am  delighted  to  see  you 
safe  and  sound,"  he  exclaimed,  with  the  most  unaffected 
sincerity.  "  But,  good  heavens!  how  did  you  escape  from 
those  murderous  wretches?  I  have  been  tortured  with  the 
cruellest  alarms  concerning  you.  At  one  moment  I  was 
resolved  to  give  information  at  Bow  Street  of  all  that  had 
occurred;  but  then  I  feared  that  if  you  had  really  escaped, 
after  all,  I  should  only  be  compromising  you,  and  that,  for 
many  reasons,  you  are  well  aware  I  would  not  do  for  the 
world.  Besides  which,  I  felt  assured  that  if  you  escaped  the 
dangers  and  the  violence  that  were  imminent  at  the  moment 
I  left  the  hut,  you  would  escape  altogether." 

While  the  baronet  was  giving  vent  to  these  rapidly  uttered 
expressions,  Nell  Gibson  seated  herself  near  the  fire  and 
gazed  upon  him  with  a  species  of  tender  interest  that  seemed 
strange  indeed  with  one  who  led  such  a  Ufe  and  possessed 
such  a  heart  as  she. 

''  And  how  knew  you,"  she  said,  in  a  gentle  and  even 
tremulous  voice,  "  that  such  dangers  menaced  me?  " 

399 


400  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


In  the  first  place,  because  I  discovered,  when  it  was  too 
late,  that  I  had  revealed  to  a  set  of  miscreants  the  kindness 
you  had  shown  toward  me,"  answered  the  baronet,  —  ''I 
mean  that  man,  that  woman,  and  that  youth  whom  I 
accompanied  back  to  the  hut.  Moreover,  when  I  recovered 
my  senses  while  bound  hand  and  foot  in  the  room  below,  I 
overheard  the  accusation  of  *  traitress '  levelled  against 
yourself,  and  then  your  piercing  screams.  Ah !  Ellen,  I  can 
assure  you  that  those  screams  have  rung  in  my  ears  ever 
since!  " 

"  And  the  young  girl  whom  you  brought  away  with  you? 
said  Nell  Gibson,  inquiringly. 

"  Oh,  she  is  safe  and  will  be  taken  care  of,"  returned  the 
baronet.   "  But  wherefore  was  she  borne  to  the  hut?  " 

Do  not  ask  me,"  said  Nell  Gibson.  "  For  no  good,  you 
may  be  sure.  Ah!  you  do  not  appear  satisfied  with  what  I 
say?   Well,  then,  it  was  to  make  her  as  bad  as  I  am." 

"  Enough!  "  ejaculated  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  with  a 
shudder;  and  then  he  fixed  his  eyes  upon  Nell  Gibson,  as  if 
to  scrutinize  thoroughly  her  entire  appearance. 

''Ah!  you  may  well  look  at  me,"  she  cried,  in  a  tone  of 
bitterness.  "  I  am  no  doubt  changed  since  first  you  knew 
me.  That  was  four  years  ago.  I  was  then  a  merry,  laughing 
girl  of  between  fifteen  and  sixteen,  —  yes,  and  an  innocent 
girl,  too  —  " 

Do  not  think  of  the  past,  Ellen,"  said  the  baronet, 
scarcely  able  to  suppress  a  sigh  as  he  mentally  compared  the 
young  woman  as  she  now  appeared  with  the  young  girl  as 
she  was  a  few  years  back.  ''  You  last  night  perilled  your  life 
to  save  mine.  Tell  me,  then,  what  can  I  do  for  you?  " 

"  You  will  give  me  the  hundred  guineas  for  this  letter," 
she  said,  producing  the  one  which  he  had  written  at  the  hut. 
''  That  is  all  I  ask  of  you,  and  it  will  be  the  means  of  saving 
my  life." 

Can  you  fear  for  a  moment  that  I  shall  hesitate?  "  ex- 
claimed the  baronet.  "  I  will  give  you  the  hundred  guineas 
wherewith  to  appease  those  vile  men;  and  I  will  give  you 
another  hundred  guineas,  ay,  or  even  three  or  four  hundred, 
for  yourself." 

"  No,  not  a  shilling,  not  a  farthing,"  said  Nell  Gibson, 
firmly  and  decisively.  "  Since  the  day  I  left  you,  never, 
never  have  I  sought  succour  at  your  hand;  and  I  would 


THE  RAKE  AND  THE  RAKE'S  VICTIM  401 


sooner  perish,  yes,  perish  mi!ierably,  than  receive  such 
succour  from  you." 

But  wherefore,  Ellen?  "  said  the  baronet,  in  amazement. 
There  is  something  unnatural,  something  perverse  in  this.'' 

No,  it  is  natural  enough,  if  you  do  but  understand  the 
mind  of  a  woman.  Since  I  left  you  I  have  endured  many 
and  many  privations;  I  have  known  what  it  is  to  want 
bread,  ay,  I  have  known  what  it  is  to  feel  starvation.  Or 
else  do  you  think,  if  it  had  not  been  through  some  desperate 
necessity,  I  should  ever  have  fallen  into  the  company  in 
which  you  found  me  last  night?  But  even  when  perishing,  as 
it  were,  with  famine,  I  never  once  applied  to  you." 

But  you  were  wrong,  Ellen,  you  were  wrong,"  said  the 
baronet.  Whatever  had  occurred,  my  purse  would  always 
have  been  open  to  you." 

Oh,  yes,  I  knew  that;  and  it  was  the  thought  of  your 
kindness  that  stung  me  to  the  very  quick.  And  therefore, 
so  far  from  being  wrong,"  she  exclaimed,  suddenly  assuming 
a  proud  look  that  for  a  m.oment  rendered  her  really  and  truly 
handsome,  "  so  far  from  being  in  the  wrong,"  she  repeated, 
"  I  was  in  the  right;  for  although  fallen  so  low  and  become 
so  debased,  degraded,  and  vile,  I  still  had  my  own  little 
feelings  of  pride  —  " 

"  With  what  wretched  sophistry  have  you  deluded  your- 
self! "  interrupted  the  baronet.  Was  I  not  your  seducer? 
Did  I  not  inflict  the  most  terrible  wrong  upon  you  which 
selfish  man  can  possibly  perpetrate  toward  confiding 
woman?  " 

Ay,  if  we  had  always  stood  in  the  light  of  seducer  and 
victim,"  said  Nell  Gibson,  it  would  have  been  different. 
Then  I  should  have  had  a  claim  upon  you,  and  would  not 
have  hesitated  to  assert  it.  But  if  you  inflicted  the  first 
wrong  upon  me,  I  subsequently  inflicted  another  upon  you. 
I  proved  faithless  to  you  when  you  loved  me  so  well  and 
cherished  me  so  fondly.  I  deceived  you  most  grossly,  and 
there  was  something  vile,  yes,  beyond  all  expression  vile,  in 
my  conduct  when  I  robbed  and  plundered  you  to  expend  the 
proceeds  of  my  iniquity  upon  a  paramour.  Well,  then, 
instead  of  remaining  your  victim  I  became  a  wrong-doer 
toward  you,  and  every  claim  that  I  might  have  possessed 
upon  your  consideration  was  forfeited.  Yes,  I  felt  all  this; 
and  again  I  tell  you  that  I  would  sooner  have  died,  ay,  have 


402  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


perished  miserably,  than  have  received  as  the  pittance  of 
charity  that  which  once  came  from  a  noble  bounty.  Rather 
would  I  have  sunk  down  through  famine,  than  have  obtained 
from  your  pity  that  which  I  once  received  from  your  fondest 
love.  Besides,  when  I  left  you  I  was  clothed  in  silk  and 
satin,  and  no  earthly  consideration  would  have  induced  me 
to  reappear  before  you  in  the  rags  of  beggary." 

"  But  still,"  observed  the  baronet,  much  moved  by  the 
language  which  thus  poured  with  such  undoubted  sincerity 
from  the  young  woman's  lips,  ^'  but  still  in  the  depths  of 
your  soul  remained  a  certain  fondness  and  affection  for  me; 
otherwise  you  would  not  have  perilled  your  life  to  save  mine 
last  night." 

^'  Listen  to  me,"  exclaimed  Nell  Gibson,  "  and  I  will 
unfold  to  you  the  maze  and  mysteries  of  a  woman's  heart,  — 
not  merely  of  one  woman,  nor  of  my  heart  alone,  but  the 
feeling  which  is  peculiar  to  us  all.  In  the  bosom  of  the  vilest, 
most  degraded,  and  most  crime-stained  of  the  unfortunate 
women  whom  the  lust  of  man  or  the  iron  sway  of  poverty 
has  flung  upon  the  streets,  yes,  in  the  bosom  of  even  the 
foulest,  lowest,  and  vilest  prostitute,  there  is  one  small 
sanctuary  in  which  an  image  is  treasured  up  as  the  idol  of  a 
worship,  and  this  is  the  image  of  the  seducer.  In  retrospect- 
ing  over  years  of  crime,  the  unfortunate  woman  carries  her 
recollections  back  to  the  period  of  her  girlhood  and  her  first 
virgin  love.  Even  though  it  was  the  love  which  robbed  her  of 
that  virginity  and  steeped  her  in  disgrace,  it  is  nevertheless 
the  one  bright  spot  in  her  checkered  career.  Yes,  if  we 
look  back  through  a  vista  of  rags  and  filth  and  poverty  and 
wretchedness  and  crime,  still  do  we  behold  at  the  beginning 
that  bright  and  sunny  period  when  hopes  were  golden  and  the 
heart  gushed  forth  with  all  the  freshest  feelings  of  youth. 
Then  is  it  that  the  image  of  the  loved  one,  though  perhaps 
no  longer  loved,  is  reproduced  vividly  to  the  memory; 
nor  is  he  thought  of  as  a  mere  seducer,  no,  nor  is 
that  past  springtide  of  joy  looked  back  upon  as  the  very 
source  whence  all  subsequent  pollutions  have  flowed.  Now, 
then,  do  you  understand  me?  Since  I  fled  from  you  I  have 
received  the  embraces  of  many,  many  men;  I  have  been 
glad  to  sell  myself  for  gold  or  for  silver;  I  have  given  myself 
up  to  suitors  in  moments  of  sensuality;  at  other  times, 
almost  without  passion  and  without  impulse,  I  have  aban- 


THE  RAKE  AND  THE  RAKE'S  VICTIM  403 


doned  myself  to  strangers  through  mere  profligacy.  And 
yet,  though  thus  drinking  the  cup  of  vice  to  the  very  dregs, 
and  dragging  myself,  as  it  were,  through  all  kinds  of  moral 
filth  and  pollution,  there  has  still  always  been  one  image 
that  I  have  cherished  in  the  sanctuary  of  my  heart,  and 
which  no  stains  of  vice  or  shades  of  misery  could  possibly 
efface.  That  image  is  yours;  and  you  are  the  only  living 
being  for  whom  I  would  have  perilled  my  life  last  night  or 
would  peril  it  again.  Nay,  had  you  been  any  other  person, 
I  should  have  seen  you  killed  without  pity  and  without 
remorse.'' 

Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  had  listened  in  speechless  amaze- 
ment to  this  address,  which  the  young  woman  delivered 
with  an  impressive  seriousness  that  precluded  all  doubt 
as  to  her  sincerity.  Besides  which,  her  actions  at  the  hut 
had  fully  proven  the  existence  of  that  sentiment  with  regard 
to  her  seducer  which  she  now  explained;  and  as  with  rapid 
glance  the  baronet's  mental  vision  swept  over  the  past,  he 
comprehended  full  well  how  such  a  state  of  feeling  as  that 
which  she  had  described  could  be. 

Four  year  had  elapsed  since  he  had  first  encountered  Ellen 
Gibson  upon  one  of  his  estates  in  a  distant  county.  Her 
parents  were  dead ;  she  had  no  relatives,  but  was  living  with 
friends.  Her  education  had  been  tolerably  well  cared  for; 
indeed,  she  had  been  reared  in  a  manner  above  her  means 
or  her  expectations.  The  baronet  saw  her  and  loved  her; 
and  she  loved  him  in  return.  Marriage  was  not  spoken  of 
between  a  man  of  rank  and  wealth  and  a  young  girl  of  rustic 
parentage;  but  she  became  his  mistress.  He  brought  her 
to  London,  lodged  her  in  a  sumptuous  mansion,  gave  her 
carriages,  horses,  servants,  —  in  fine,  all  the  luxuries  and 
elegancies  of  life.  But  she  soon  formed  other  connections; 
and  her  profligacy,  developing  itself  with  remarkable  sudden- 
ness, hurried  her  away  with  a  sort  of  frenetic  speed.  Sir 
Douglas  discovered  her  infidelity,  and  wrote  to  remonstrate, 
even  offering  her  forgiveness;  for  he  was  infatuated  with  her 
at  the  time.  But  instead  of  answering  his  note,  she  sold  off 
the  entire  contents  of  the  mansion,  the  carriages,  horses, 
even  to  his  own  plate  which  she  had  with  her  at  the  time; 
and  taking  her  departure,  she  lavished  the  produce  upon  a 
paramour  who  had  not  a  single  quality,  personal,  mental, 
or  social,  that  could  compare  with  those  of  the  baronet. 


404  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Since  that  period  her  career  had  been  one  of  those  rapid 
downward  ones  which  furnish  so  many  a  history  of  female 
crime;  and  therefore  seeing  what  she  now  was,  and  what 
she  once  had  been,  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  could  scarcely 
feel  astonished  if  from  the  dark  depths  of  her  present  position 
she  occasionally  cast  wistful,  longing,  and  even  loving  eyes 
backward  upon  that  epoch  which  formed  the  brightest  page 
in  her  life's  history. 

"  But  wherefore,"  he  said,  after  a  long  pause,  "  should 
you  go  back  to  those  dreadful  men?  Tell  me,  would  you  like 
to  abandon  the  sort  of  existence  you  are  now  leading?  " 

"  God  knows  I  would!  "  returned  the  young  woman,  in  a 
voice  expressive  of  the  deepest  feeling.  "  But  it  is  impossible, 
it  is  impossible,"  she  immediately  added,  shaking  her  head, 
while  an  expression  of  unutterable  despair  swept  over  her 
countenance. 

"  Why  impossible? "  demanded  the  baronet,  in  amaze- 
ment. Can  you  not  to-morrow,  if  you  choose,  retire  into 
some  agreeable  seclusion?  What  if  I  were  to  go  early  in  the 
morning  and  take  a  nice  respectable  lodging  for  you  —  " 

"  Oh,  no,  no,  it  is  impossible,"  interrupted  Nell  Gibson, 
impatiently.  "  You  are  not  aware,  you  cannot  imagine  how 
difficult  it  is  to  extricate  oneself  from  the  meshes  of  crime." 

Do  you  mean  to  tell  me,"  said  the  baronet,  contemplat- 
ing the  young  woman  in  dismay,  "  solemnly  and  seriously 
tell  me,  that  you  are  so  inveterately  wedded  to  this  shocking 
course  of  life  —  " 

"  My  God!  no,  ten  thousand  times  no!  "  interrupted  Nell 
Gibson,  a  sort  of  agony  sweeping  over  her  features.  Have 
I  not  told  you  that  I  would  abandon  this  wretched,  wretched 
mode  of  life  if  I  could?  And,  oh,  words  have  no  power  to 
tell  the  deep,  deep  horror,  the  intense  loathing,  which  I  at 
times  feel  for  such  an  existence.  Ere  now  I  spoke  of  my 
depravities,  and  I  said  that  often,  when  neither  tempted  by 
gold  nor  prompted  by  passion,  I  flung  myself  into  the  em- 
braces of  the  merest  strangers.  Well,  perhaps  if  I  had 
described  my  humour  on  such  occasions  as  the  recklessness  of 
despair,  instead  of  the  wantonness  of  sheer  depravity,  I 
should  have  been  nearer  the  mark.  Yes,  to  drive  away 
thought  I  must  always  have  some  kind  of  excitement.  I  hate 
brandy,  but  I  drink  it  often  and  often;  I  feel  that  it  hardens 
me.   I  am  always  ready  to  do  anything  wrong,  ay,  even  to 


THE  RAKE  AND  THE  RAKE'S  VICTIM  405 


commit  unnecessary  or  unprofitable  crimes,  sooner  than  do 
nothing;  and  for  the  same  reason  do  I  seek  the  excitement 
of  all  possible  profligacies.  By  these  means  do  I  expel 
thought,  and  thus  manage  >to  maintain  a  calm  and  even 
happy  exterior/' 

"  But  wherefore,  I  again  ask,"  said  the  baronet,  "  should 
you  not  abandon  this  course  of  life  if  you  wish?  Wherefore 
return  to  those  horrible  companions?  " 

Because  I  am  so  utterly  and  completely  in  their  power," 
answered  the  young  woman.  ^'  Wherever  I  might  hide  my- 
self, they  would  seek  me  out.  Ay,  even  did  I  fly  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth,  they  would  pursue  me,  they  would  discover 
my  retreat,  they  would  murder  me.  When  once  a  person 
gets  deep  in  with  such  companionship,  it  is  impossible  to 
extricate  oneself.  No,  it  cannot  be  done.  You  see  how 
completely  I  am  in  the  power  of  those  wretches,  by  coming 
here  for  these  hundred  gumeas  to  propitiate  them." 

''Ah!  and  this  reminds  me  to  inquire,"  said  the  baronet, 
"  how  you  saved  yourself  from  their  fury,  and  what  colouring 
you  gave  to  the  adventure." 

"  That  man  who  enticed  you  back  to  the  hut  was  none 
other  than  the  public  executioner,"  replied  Nell  Gibson. 
"  There,  start  not,  speak  not.  What  matters  it  now  who  he 
was?  I  tell  you  all  this,  of  course  being  well  aware  that  you 
will  take  no  advantage  of  it.  The  woman  who  came  with  him 
is  his  mistress,  and  the  lad  is  his  apprentice.  Sally  Melmoth 
—  that  is  the  woman's  name  —  has  long  had  a  spite  against 
me,  because  she  fancies  I  have  been  overintimate  with  her 
flash  man.  But  no,  not  for  the  world!  Base  and  profligate 
as  I  know  I  am,  there  is  a  lower  depth  even  than  the  lowest 
to  which  I  have  sunk,  and  that  is  the  arms  of  the  public 
hangman.  But  to  return  to  last  night's  affair.  The  Hang- 
man and  the  apprentice  prevented  the  infuriate  woman  from 
doing  me  a  mischief;  and  while  the  Hangman  himself  burst 
open  the  door  and  rushed  after  you  and  the  young  girl,  his 
mistress  and  the  lad  kept  guard  upon  me.  Presently  the 
Hangman  came  back,  after  a  fruitlesss  search;  and  almost 
at  the  same  time  the  other  men  returned  from  an  equally 
unavailing  hunt  after  you.  They  were  all  savage  enough, 
and  I  thought  that  everything  was  over  with  me.  So  I  pre- 
pared for  the  worst.  The  Hangman  told  the  other  men  how 
you  had  sought  refuge  at  the  public-house  in  the  by-lane, 


406  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


how  you  had  innocently  let  slip  the  admission  that  you 
owed  your  life  to  me,  and  how  he  had  enticed  you  back  to  the 
hut  to  be  disposed  of  as  the  whole  gang  should  think  fit. 
The  man  that  I  am  now  living  with  —  he  who  brought  you 
down  the  writing-paper  and  who  is  called  the  Buttoner  — 
then  declared  that  from  the  first  moment  he  suspected  I  had 
given  you  such  information,  and  this  suspicion  on  his  part 
had  been  confirmed  by  the  circumstance  that  I  had  acci- 
dentally let  out  to  that  stout  man,  whose  name  is  Bencull, 
that  you  were  a  baronet,  this  circumstance  proving  that  I 
knew  you  before.  All  these  statements  and  remarks  were 
made  in  my  presence,  and  ferocious  looks  glared  upon  me 
from  every  eye.  I  saw  that  nothing  but  the  sudden  exertion 
of  all  my  presence  of  mind  could  save  me,  and  I  accordingly 
exclaimed, '  Well,  I  confess  that  all  you  have  said  is  true;  but 
the  man  whose  life  I  have  this  night  saved  was  my  first  love, 
—  indeed,  the  only  man  I  ever  sincerely  and  truly  did  love. 
I  knew  it  was  vain  and  useless  to  beg  his  life  at  your  hands, 
and  therefore  I  gave  him  the  whispered  information  which 
led  him  to  flee.  You  may  kill  me  if  you  like;  but  I  would  do 
so  over  again  this  moment,  in  spite  of  all  consequences. 
That  is,  however,  no  reason  why  I  should  betray  you  in  other 
things,  and  you  know  right  well  that  I  would  not.'  They  were 
all  much  struck  by  these  remarks,  but  more  so  by  the  boldness 
of  my  manner.  I  thereupon  proceeded  to  assure  them  that 
you  would  not  take  any  proceedings  against  them,  for  fear 
of  compromising  me.  As  a  proof  thereof,  I  offered  to  come 
to  your  house  to-day  and  obtain  from  you  these  hundred 
guineas  for  them.  These  assurances  satisfied  the  whole 
party,  the  Hangman's  mistress  alone  excepted.  Three  of 
the  men  have  now  accompanied  me  as  far  as  your  door, 
and  are  waiting  at  this  moment  in  the  street.  You  see, 
therefore,"  added  Nell  Gibson,  with  that  calmness  which 
was  her  outward  characteristic,  how  true  I  spoke  when  I 
declared  that  it  was  impossible  to  escape  from  the  trammels 
of  crime  and  the  meshes  of  such  companionship." 

Thus  ended  the  colloquy  between  this  young  woman  and 
her  seducer.  She  received  the  hundred  guineas  for  which 
she  had  called,  but  again  did  she  emphatically  decline  any 
boon  or  gift  for  herself.  The  baronet  accompanied  her  as 
far  as  the  front  door  of  his  house;  and  standing  upon  the 
threshold  for  a  few  minutes  to  look  after  her,  he  observed 


THE  RAKE  AND  THE  RAKE'S  VICTIM  407 

by  the  light  of  the  lamps  that  she  joined  three  men  at  the 
corner  of  the  street. 

Women  are  strange  creatures!  "  thought  the  baronet 
to  himself,  as  he  retraced  Ijis  way  to  his  own  cheerful  fireside. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 


MORE  PLOTTING  AND  COUNTERPLOTTING 

The  three  men  whom  Nell  Gibson  thus  joined  were  the 
Buttoner,  Bencull,  and  the  Hangman;  and  passing  rapidly 
away  from  the  fashionable  street  where  Sir  Douglas  Hunting- 
don lived,  they  plunged  into  a  low  district  in  the  close 
vicinity.  For  be  it  observed  that  in  London  the  back  win- 
dows of  the  palaces  of  the  rich  often  look  upon  the  noisome 
dens  where  the  poor  —  their  victims  —  dwell. 

Entering  a  vile  public-house,  or  boozing-ken,  the  three 
men  and  Nell  Gibson  proceeded  to  the  tap-room,  and  as  there 
was  no  one  else  there  at  the  time,  they  were  enabled  to 
converse  at  their  ease. 

Now,  Nell,"  said  the  Buttoner,  as  soon  as  an  order  had 
been  given  for  some  liquor,  what  news?  I  suppose  you 
succeeded  with  your  pal,  the  baronet." 

Here  is  the  money,"  she  observed,  quietly  producing 
gold  and  bank-notes  for  a  hundred  guineas. 

"  And  you  couldn't  get  no  more  out  of  him?  "  observed 
Bencull,  savagely. 

"  Not  a  farthing,"  answered  Nell  Gibson.  "  I  had  a  great 
deal  of  difficulty  in  getting  this." 

Then  he  was  deuced  ungrateful,"  said  the  Hangman, 
after  all  you  did  for  him  last  night." 
"  Yes,  very,"  replied  the  young  woman. 
And  didn't  you  learn  nothink  about  that  sweet  young 
gal?  "  demanded  Bencull. 

Only  that  Sir  Douglas,  on  ascertaining  who  she  was, 
restored  her  to  her  friends."    And  in  giving  this  answer 
Nell  Gibson  was  prompted  by  the  same  feeling  which  had 
inspired   her   conduct   throughout   toward   the  baronet, 
*namely,  to  do  nothing  that  should  in  any  way  injure  or 

408 


PLOTTING  AND  COUNTERPLOTTING  409 


annoy  him,  but,  on  the  contrary,  anything  she  could  to  serve 
him. 

Well,  this  is  perwoking,"  exclaimed  Bencull,  to  lose 
that  young  gal  after  all  the  trouble  I  had  in  getting  possession 
of  her!  But  there's  one  more  question,  and  that  is,  whether 
there's  any  chance  of  a  safe  crack  in  the  baronet's  house?  " 

^'  Eh!  that's  the  question,"  said  the  Hangman,  instinc- 
tively tapping  his  capacious  pocket  to  show  that  he  had  his 
burglarious  apparatus  concealed  about  his  person. 

"  1  examined  the  hall  well,  as  I  went  in  and  came  out," 
said  Nell  Gibson,  but  I  don't  think  that  an  entry  can  be 
made  in  that  quarter.  In  fact,  I  scarce  think  from  what 
I  saw  that  it  would  be  worth  while  to  attempt  it  at  all." 

"  Now  mind  you,  I  think  just  the  contrary,"  cried  the 
Hangman,  with  an  oath,  for  he  had  been  watching  Nell 
Gibson's  countenance  from  under  his  overhanging  brows, 
and  he  felt  convinced  in  his  own  mind  that  she  was  doing  all 
she  could  to  shield  the  baronet. 

"  I  say  let  us  try  the  crack,"  exclaimed  the  Buttoner, 
sharing  the  Hangman's  suspicions. 

And  I  say,"  added  Bencull,  "  that  if  I  do  it  alone,  it 
shall  be  done.  There's  a  coach-house  and  stable  adjoining 
the  baronet's  mansion,  and  we  can  easy  get  through  that  way 
to  the  back  of  the  premises.  Then,  when  once  at  the  back  of 
a  house,  I  should  like  to  see  the  doors  or  windows  that  would 
keep  me  out." 

^'  Well,  then,  it's  agreed,"  said  the  Hangman.  "  Let  me 
see,"  he  continued,  looking  at  a  great  silver  watch  which 
he  pulled  from  his  fob,  "  it's  now  half-past  ten  o'clock.  We 
will  wait  here  till  twelve,  and  that  shall  be  the  hour.  The 
lush  is  good  at  this  ken,  and  the  landlord  knows  me." 

"  Will  you  stay  here,  then,  Nell?  "  inquired  the  Buttoner, 
"or  go  home  to  Bermondsey  and  get  to  bed  comfortable, 
while  I  stay  to  do  the  trick?  " 

"  Just  as  you  like,"  answered  Nell,  with  apparent  in- 
difference, though  in  her  heart  she  was  most  anxious  to  get 
away  at  once. 

"  Well,  then,"  said  the  Buttoner,  also  affecting  the  utmost 
carelessness  in  the  matter,  I  should  think  you  had  better 
get  get  home  as  quick  as  you  can." 

So  be  it,"  said  Nell  Gibson,  rising  from  her  seat.  Then, 
with  a  laugh,  she  observed  to  her  paramour  the  Buttoner, 


410  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  Mind  in  dividing  that  swag  you  remember  my  regulars/' 
and  she  pointed  to  the  money  on  the  table. 

"  All  right,  Nell,"  said  the  Buttoner;  and  the  young 
woman  then  took  her  departure. 

What  did  you  let  her  go  for?  "  demanded  the  Hangman, 
savagely,  the  moment  the  door  closed  behind  her.  Curse 
me  if  I  don't  think  she's  been  playing  us  false  again  with 
this  baronet  —  " 

That's  just  my  opinion,"  interrupted  the  Buttoner, 
starting  from  his  seat,  and  it's  'cos  why  I  think  so  that 
I  persuaded  her  to  be  off  so  that  I  may  have  an  opportunity 
of  watching  her.  I  shall  be  back  at  midnight,  at  all  events, 
if  not  sooner." 

Having  thus  spoken,  he  turned  up  the  collar  of  his  coat, 
slouched  his  hat  over  his  countenance,  and  then  hastened 
from  the  boozing-ken.  On  emerging  into  the  street,  he 
caught  a  glimpse  of  Nell  Gibson  by  the  light  of  a  lamp,  just 
as  she  was  turning  around  the  corner;  and  having  once  got 
upon  the  right  track,  he  had  no  difficulty  in  keeping  her  in 
view,  still  leaving  such  a  distance  between  them  as  to  pre- 
vent her  from  perceiving  that  she  was  thus  dogged.  At 
first,  however,  she  kept  halting,  turning  around,  looking  and 
listening,  every  two  or  three  minutes;  but  at  length,  being 
perfectly  satisfied  that  there  was  no  watch  set  upon  her, 
she  increased  her  pace,  and  made  straight  for  the  almonry  in 
Westminster,  which  was  about  a  mile  from  the  boozing-ken 
she  had  so  recently  left. 

The  almonry  is  one  of  those  dreadful  neighbourhoods 
where  pauperism  is  most  intense,  squalor  most  hideous, 
demoralization  most  depraved.  It  consists  chiefly  of 
brothels  and  such  like  dens  of  infamy,  and  forms  part  of  the 
domain  belonging  as  an  endowment  to  Westminster  Abbey. 
But  inasmuch  as  loathsome  hotbeds  of  vice  and  moral 
lazar-houses  of  that  kind  usually  produce  a  good  rent,  the 
dean  and  chapter  could  not  of  course  think  of  purging  a 
neighbourhood  which  yielded  them  such  large  revenues. 

In  the  midst  of  that  morass  so  densely  peopled  with  human 
reptiles,  and  exhaling  so  pestilential  an  atmosphere,  was 
situated  a  low  boozing-ken  known  as  Meg  Blowen's  crib. 
It  differed  from  BencuU's  establishment  in  Jacob's  Island 
inasmuch  as  it  had  not  the  appearance  of  a  private  dwelling, 
but  was  open  like  any  other  public-house,  and  had  a  large 


PLOTTING  AND  COUNTERPLOTTING  411 


room  on  the  ground  floor  always  filled  at  night  with  the  vilest 
of  the  vile  and  the  lowest  of  the  low. 

To  this  place  did  Nell  Gibson  wend  her  way,  the  Buttoner 
still  following  at  a  distance.  Entering  the  establishment, 
she  tarried  for  a  few  minutes  in  the  public-room  to  exchange 
some  friendly  observations  with  her  acquaintances  there; 
and  having  thus  dispensed  her  courtesies  to  the  leading 
members  of  the  gang,  she  passed  into  Meg  Blowen's  —  that 
is  to  say,  the  landlady's  —  private  room  behind  the  bar. 
If  we  follow  her  thither  and  peep  in  at  her  proceedings,  we 
shall  observe  that  she  requested  to  be  furnished  with  pen, 
ink,  and  paper;  and  having  written  a  letter,  she  summoned 
into  her  presence  a  lad  whom  she  believed  to  be  the  most 
trustworthy  amongst  the  juvenile  portion  of  reprobates  there 
assembled.  Making  him  secure  about  his  person  the  letter 
which  she  had  written,  she  bade  him  hasten  and  deliver  it  at 
an  address  which  she  named,  and  to  depart  from  the  house 
the  moment  he  placed  the  letter  in  the  hands  of  the  servant 
answering  the  door.  Having  thus  explicitly  given  her  in- 
structions, she  placed  five  shillings  in  the  lad's  hands,  and 
he  set  forth  with  great  glee  to  execute  his  commission. 

But  to  return  to  the  Buttoner,  we  must  observe  that  on 
seeing  Nell  Gibson  enter  Meg  Blowen's  he  was  more  than 
ever  convinced  she  had  some  artifice  in  view;  and  looking 
through  the  window,  he  first  saw  her  converse  with  her  ac- 
quaintances in  the  public-room,  and  then  pass  into  the  pri- 
vate parlour  behind  the  bar.  He  next  saw  Meg  Blowen  reach 
down  the  pen  and  ink  from  a  shelf,  take  a  sheet  of  paper  out 
of  a  drawer,  and  then  carry  these  writings  materials  into  the 
parlour.  It  would  have  struck  any  individual  even  far  less 
astute  than  the  Buttoner  that  Nell  Gibson  was  going  to  send 
a  written  communication  somewhere,  and  he  therefore 
remained  intently  upon  the  watch.  In  a  few  minutes  he  saw 
Nell  Gibson  appear  at  the  door  of  the  parlour,  cast  her  eyes 
searchingly  around  upon  the  motley  assemblage,  and  select 
one  of  the  lads.  The  youth  thus  singled  out  was  (as  already 
stated)  summoned  by  her  into  the  parlour,  and  in  a  short 
time  he  reappeared.  But  instead  of  rejoining  his  companions 
at  the  table  in  the  public-room,  he  at  once  issued  forth  from 
the  establishment. 

The  Buttoner  followed  him  until  they  were  at  a  convenient 
distance  from  the  place;  then,  looking  back  and  perceiving 


412  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


the  coast  was  clear,  he  overtook  the  boy,  and,  clutching  him 
by  the  collar,  said,  in  a  fierce  tone,  "  Now,  my  lad,  a  word 
with  you." 

Holloa,  Mister  Buttoner,"  exclaimed  the  youth,  catching 
a  glimpse  of  the  man's  countenance  by  the  light  gleaming 
from  a  window.  What  do  you  mean  by  stopping  me  like 
this  here?  " 

Oh,  you  know  me,  do  you,  young  feller?  "  cried  the 
Buttoner.  Well,  so  much  the  better;  we  shall  sooner 
come  to  an  understanding.  Now  then,  you  have  nothing  to 
fear,  because  I  shall  let  you  keep  whatever  the  young  woman 
has  just  given  you,  and  I  will  give  you  double  myself  into 
the  bargain," 

"  Well,  she  gived  me  a  guinea,"  said  the  boy,  prompt  with 
a  lie  and  ready  with  a  cheat. 

"  Wery  good,"  observed  the  Buttoner.  "  Then  of  course 
you  can  show  it  me?  " 

Won't  you  take  a  genelman's  word?  "  asked  the  lad, 
impudently. 

No  nonsense,"  responded  the  Buttoner,  bestowing  a 
hearty  shake  upon  the  youth.  Come,  show  us  what  Nell 
Gibson  gave  yer,  and  I'll  double  it." 

Well,  by  goles!  it's  turned  into  a  crown,"  said  the  boy, 
producing  a  five-shilling  piece.  It's  the  reg'lar  counterfeit 
crank  she's  come  over  me." 

"  Nonsense,"  interrupted  the  Buttoner.  Then  pulling  a 
handful  of  silver  from  his  pocket,  and  counting  out  ten 
shillings,  he  said,  "  Now  give  me  the  letter  you've  got  about 
you,  walk  about  for  half  an  hour  or  so,  and  go  back  and  tell 
the  young  woman  that  you've  done  her  commission  quite 
faithful." 

The  ten  shillings  chinked  in  the  boy's  hand,  the  Buttoner 
grasped  the  letter,  and  they  separated,  the  latter  returning 
to  the  boozing-ken  where  he  had  left  the  Hangman  and 
BencuU.  In  a  few  hasty  words  he  explained  to  them  all 
that  had  occurred,  and  on  opening  the  letter,  which  was 
addressed  to  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  the  contents  were 
found  to  be  as  follows: 

"  Look  well  to  your  premises  to-night.  A  burglary  is 
contemplated  by  some  of  the  men  you  saw  at  the  hut  on 
Shooter's  Hill.    I  said  all  I  could  to  prevent  this  further 


PLOTTING  AND  COUNTERPLOTTING  413 


annoyance  toward  you;  but  I  could  not  succeed  in  staving 
it  off.  I  am  very  much  afraid  that  they  suspected  I  was 
playing  a  part  ;  if  so,  all  these  causes  of  suspicion  will  make 
it  go  hard  with  me  sooner  or  later.  But  no  matter;  what- 
ever is  to  happen  must  take  its  course.  I  would  have  come 
back  to  warn  you  of  the  attempt  that  will  be  made,  but  I  am 
so  fearful  that  one  of  the  men  might  go  and  watch  the  street. 
So  I  prefer  writing,  and  have  found  a  trusty  messenger.  I 
think  the  men  will  enter  by  the  coach-house  and  get  around 
to  the  back  of  the  premises;  but  you  must  keep  watch  at  all 
points.  One  thing,  however,  I  conjure  you,  that  is  not  to 
adopt  any  means  to  take  them  into  custody,  nor  yet  to  do 
them  any  unnecessary  hurt;  only  just  to  defend  and  protect 
yourself.  This  is  most  likely  the  last  time  you  will  ever 
hear  of  or  from  — 

"  Ellen." 

The  rage  of  the  Hangman,  Bencull,  and  the  Buttoner,  on 
reading  this  epistle,  may  be  better  conceived  than  described. 
Daniel  Coffin  muttered  such  awful  threats  against  the  young 
woman,  that  if  his  two  companions  had  not  been  kindred 
fiends,  their  blood  would  have  run  cold.  But  when  the  first 
ebullition  of  their  diaboUcal  wrath  was  expended,  they 
agreed  after  calmer  and  cooler  deliberation  to  conceal  for  the 
present  their  knowledge  of  this  additional  treachery  on 
Nell  Gibson's  part,  with  a  view  to  ascertain  by  some  means 
or  other  whether  she  were  also  betraying  them  in  respect  to 
the  plot  initiated  against  Larry  Sampson. 

By  the  time  this  resolution  was  fairly  discussed  and 
adopted  by  the  three  villains,  the  Hangman's  watch  showed 
that  it  was  midnight.  They  accordingly  tossed  off  bumpers 
of  brandy  to  drink  success  to  their  undertaking,  and  thus 
inspired  with  a  more  than  natural  amount  of  brute  courage, 
they  repaired  in  the  direction  of  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon's 
mansion. 

Although  the  street  where  the  house  was  situated  was  a 
fashionable  one,  it  was  no  great  thoroughfare,  and  by  the 
aid  of  the  Hangman's  skeleton  keys  the  coach-house  door 
was  soon  opened.  The  three  ruffians,  having  thus  let  them- 
selves into  this  portion  of  the  establishment,  locked  the  door 
behind  them,  and  then  proceeded  to  light  a  "  darkey," 
or  lantern,  which  also  formed  part  of  the  invariable  tackle 


414  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


of  a  cracksman.  In  the  rear  of  the  coach-house  were  the 
stables,  in  which  there  were  several  horses;  and  there  was 
a  door  behind,  leading  into  a  yard  at  the  back  of  the  house. 
The  three  burglars  accordingly  entered  the  stable  for  the 
purpose  of  passing  through  by  the  way  described;  but  two 
of  the  horses  exhibited  such  manifestations  of  terror  by 
kicking  and  plunging,  as  if  instinctively  aware  of  the  presence 
of  intruders,  that  a  groom  who  slept  in  a  chamber  above 
the  coach-house  was  aroused  from  his  repose. 

Leaping  from  his  bed,  and  arming  himself  with  a  pair  of 
pistols,  the  groom  sprang  down  the  ladder  leading  to  his 
chamber;  but  he  was  instantaneously  seized  by  the  three 
burglars,  against  whom  he  made  a  desperate  resistance.  The 
lantern  was  dashed  out  of  the  Hangman's  hand,  and  the 
glass  broken  against  the  wall.  It  then  fell  upon  a  heap  of 
straw,  the  light  remaining  unextinguished.  The  same  blow 
which  dashed  the  lantern  from  Coffin's  hand  knocked  him 
violently  down;  and  he  lay  half-stunned  upon  the  floor 
for  nearly  a  minute,  during  which  Bencull  and  the  Buttoner 
succeeded  in  overpowering  the  groom. 

Let's  give  him  his  gruel,  Ben,"  cried  the  Buttoner,  as 
they  both  dashed  the  unfortunate  man  with  all  their  strength 
against  the  wall,  so  that  he  groaned  heavily  once,  and  then 
fell,  lying  motionless,  either  dead  or  else  stunned  beyond  all 
hope  of  recovery. 

But  scarcely  was  this  crime  accomplished,  when  the 
sudden  blazing  of  the  straw  on  which  the  lantern  had 
fallen  startled  the  burglars.  From  the  Buttoner's  lips  burst 
the  cry  of  Fire!  "  The  Hangman,  who  had  just  recovered 
his  senses,  sprang  as  if  galvanized  to  his  feet ;  and  Bencull  at 
once  began  to  throw  pails  of  water  upon  the  burning  material, 
there  being  a  pump  in  the  coach-house.  But  this  endeavour 
to  extinguish  the  flame  speedily  proving  utterly  ineffectual, 
the  three  burglars  were  compelled  to  depart  as  stealthily 
and  promptly  as  they  could. 

Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  had  not  as  yet  retired  to  rest. 
The  story  which  he  had  heard  from  the  lips  of  his  house- 
keeper relative  to  the  troubles  of  Theodore  and  Ariadne 
Varian  —  together  with  the  singular  and  touching  features 
of  his  interview  with  Nell  Gibson  —  had  furnished  him  with 
so  much  food  for  reflection  that  he  remained  sitting  by  his 
cheerful  fireside,  lost  in  serious  meditation.   All  the  rest  of 


PLOTTING  AND  COUNTERPLOTTING  415 


the  household  had  retired  to  their  chambers,  a  profound 
stillness  reigned  through  the  house,  and  not  a  sound  reached 
his  ears  from  without.  But  all  on  a  sudden  this  dead,  deep 
silence  —  this  awe-inspiring  solemnity  of  the  midnight 
hour  —  was  broken  by  that  most  terrible  of  all  alarms,  the 
cry  of     Fire!  " 

Startled  from  his  reflections  as  if  by  the  voice  of  doom 
thundering  in  his  ear,  and  springing  from  his  seat  as  if  stung 
by  an  adder.  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  rushed  from  the  room 
and  bounded  forth  to  the  front  door  to  ascertain  whether  the 
alarm  were  real  and  where  the  fire  was.  In  an  instant  he  ac- 
quired the  dreadful  certainty  that  it  was  neither  a  cruel  jest 
nor  a  false  rumour;  for  the  moment  he  opened  the  front 
door,  the  vivid  light  flashed  upon  his  eyes,  and  he  beheld  the 
flames  bursting  forth  from  the  windows  of  the  rooms  above 
the  coach-house.  Already,  too,  were  crowds  hurrying 
thither,  the  alarm  was  spreading  to  the  neighbouring  dwell- 
ings, and  all  the  usual  features  of  such  a  scene  were  manifest- 
ing themselves  in  their  variety,  confusion,  and  excitement. 

Several  persons  sprang  toward  Sir  Douglas,  some  proffering 
their  advice,  others  demanding  how  many  people  slept  in  his 
house,  and  in  which  rooms  they  were.  In  a  moment  he  was 
overwhelmed  with  multitudinous  questions  and  bewildered 
with  conflicting  counsels.  Then  came  a  couple  of  watchmen 
springing  their  rattles;  next  appeared  three  or  four  hulking 
fellows  bearing  along  a  ladder  and  knocking  down  all  who 
got  in  their  way,  and  all  this  while  the  crowd  was  collecting 
and  the  flames  were  bursting  forth  with  increasing  fury. 

But  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  soon  recovered  his  presence 
of  mind,  and  rushing  back  into  the  house  he  raised  the  fearful 
alarm  of  fire,  which  did  not  appear  as  yet  to  have  reached  the 
ears  of  any  inmate  save  himself.  In  a  few  moments  all  was 
bustle,  confusion,  and  dismay  within  the  walls  of  the  mansion. 
Mrs.  Baines  came  rushing  down  in  her  night-clothes,  and 
overcome  with  terror,  she  fainted  in  the  hall.  Some  of  the 
other  servants  soon  made  their  appearance  also;  and  as  the 
flames  had  now  spread  from  the  coach-house  to  the  mansion 
itself,  several  active  persons  amongst  the  crowd  began 
rapidly  to  remove  all  the  most  portable  articles  of  furniture 
into  the  street.  The  ladder  was  raised  against  the  front  of 
the  house  in  case  of  need,  to  facilitate  escape  from  the  upper 
stories,  and  messengers  were  despatched  for  a  fire-engine. 


416  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Meantime  the  baronet,  struck  with  horror  at  the  idea 
that  his  groom  slept  over  the  coach-house,  —  and  having 
satisfied  himself  that  the  other  servants  were  all  safe,  — 
rushed  to  the  back  of  the  premises  and  opened  the  door 
leading  from  the  yard  to  the  stable.  Several  persons  followed 
him;  but  the  instant  that  stable-door  was  opened,  two  or 
three  of  the  horses  sprang  madly  forth,  trampling  down 
those  who  were  in  their  way.  Sir  Douglas  himself  was  thus 
much  hurt  by  one  of  the  affrighted  animals;  but  rushing 
forward,  he  sought  to  penetrate  into  the  stable.  A  volume 
of  flame,  bursting  forth,  drove  him  back;  and  to  his  horror 
he  heard  the  piteous  sounds  of  dying  agony  which  proved 
that  several  of  his  horses  were  perishing  in  the  flames.  But 
the  groom,  —  the  poor  unfortunate  groom,  —  where  was  he? 
Again  did  Sir  Douglas  spring  forward  in  order  to  penetrate 
into  the  coach-house;  but  again  did  a  volume  of  smoke 
drive  him  back.  A  third  time  did  he  make  the  attempt;  and 
now  the  ceiling  of  coach-house  and  stable  fell  in  with  a  terrific 
crash,  and  if  two  of  the  men  who  had  followed  the  baronet 
hither  had  not  suddenly  pulled  him  back  as  they,  heard  the 
rafters  giving  way,  he  would  have  been  buried  in  the 
ruins. 

For  a  few  moments  the  flames  seemed  stifled  in  this  part 
of  the  premises;  but  as  a  long  tongue  of  fire  suddenly  shot 
up,  lambent  and  lurid  again,  the  baronet  observed  by  the 
light  that  the  fall  of  the  ceiling  had  brought  down  with  it  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  partition  wall  separating  the 
stabling  department  from  the  mansion  itself.  A  large 
portion  of  the  interior  of  the  dwelling-house  was  thus  re- 
vealed, including  a  back  staircase  leading  up  to  the  bed- 
chambers. 

At  this  moment  the  recollection  flashed  to  the  baronet's 
mind  that  he  had  not  ere  now  seen  Ariadne  Varian  amongst 
the  other  inmates  of  the  mansion  whose  safety  was  assured. 
Indeed,  the  poor  girl  had  been  forgotten.  Mrs.  Baines  had 
swooned,  as  already  stated,  and  had  been  borne  to  a  neigh- 
bour's house,  where  she  fell  into  alarming  hysterics;  and, 
on  the  other  hand,  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon's  attention  had 
been  mainly  directed  toward  the  coach-house  and  stabling. 
Thus  was  it  that  the  only  two  persons  who  were  Ukely  to 
think  of  poor  Ariadne  were  prevented  by  circumstances 
from  doing  so,  until  the  sudden  laying  bare  of  the  private 


PLOTTING  AND  COUNTERPLOTTING  417 


staircase  to  the  view  of  the  baronet  led  him  to  pass  in  rapid 
array  in  his  mind  every  chamber  to  which  that  staircase 
led. 

The  instant  that  the  image  of  Ariadne  thus  flashed  to  his 
recollection,  he  gave  utterance  to  a  cry  of  mingled  anguish 
and  despair;  then,  springing  forward,  he  clambered  through 
the  vast  aperture  which  the  falling  in  of  the  partition  wall 
had  caused,  and  he  thus  gained  the  interior  of  the  dwelling- 
house.  Passing  into  the  hall,  he  found  his  servants  and 
many  strangers  busy  in  removing  the  furniture.  He  made 
rapid  inquiries  concerning  Ariadne,  but  the  servants  had 
forgotten  her,  and  the  strangers  had  seen  no  young  damsel 
answering  to  her  description  descend  the  stairs. 

Horrible  uncertainty!  All  the  upper  part  of  the  house 
was  in  a  perfect  conflagration.  The  street  was  as  light  as  if 
it  were  daytime,  and  one  wretched  engine  was  making  the 
most  ineffectual  attempts  to  quench  the  fire.  The  ladder 
itself  had  caught  the  flames  gushing  forth  from  the  upper 
windows.  And  here  we  may  observe  that  the  crowds 
augmented;  and  amongst  them  were  the  Hangman,  Bencull, 
and  the  Buttoner,  all  three  hovering  about  to  see  what  piece 
of  good  luck  the  chapter  of  accidents  might  throw  in  their 
way. 

From  all  that  has  been  said,  hurried  and  brief  though  the 
description  be,  the  reader  will  understand  that  the  flames 
had  spread  like  wild-fire  in  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time. 
Catching  the  chambers  above  the  coach-house,  they  had 
thence  burst  into  the  mansion,  all  the  upper  part  of  which 
was  now  enveloped  in  a  terrific  blaze.  To  ascend  therefore 
to  the  rooms  above  appeared  an  act  of  frenzy  or  of  despera- 
tion. But  Ariadne's  life  was  at  stake,  and  this  thought  was 
sufficient  to  nerve  the  baronet  with  the  strength  and  courage 
of  a  thousand. 

Retracing  his  way  from  the  hall  to  the  back  staircase, 
he  rushed  up  it.  It  was  the  same  as  a  besieger  scaling  the 
walls  of  a  town,  while  all  kinds  of  igneous  missiles  and  com- 
bustibles are  showered  down  upon  him.  Sir  Douglas  had 
literally  to  ascend  through  gushing  flames  and  volumes  of 
smoke,  —  flames  that  scorched  and  smoke  that  blinded; 
but  he  was  resolved  to  rescue  Ariadne,  or  perish  in  the 
attempt.  In  a  few  seconds  he  reached  her  chamber  door. 
Bursting  it  open,  he  beheld  her  lying  senseless  on  the  carpet. 


418  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Through  the  wainscoted  wall  the  flames  were  already  gush- 
ing; the  heat  was  intense,  the  smoke  stifling.  In  less  than 
a  minute  the  maiden  would  have  been  suffocated,  whereas 
she  was  as  yet  unscathed  by  the  fire,  and  had  most  probably 
fainted  through  terror  when  endeavouring  to  escape  from 
her  room  on  the  first  alarm  of  fire. 

To  snatch  her  up  in  his  arms  and  bear  her  forth  was  the 
work  of  a  moment.  Her  head  drooped  back  upon  the  baronet's 
shoulder,  and  she  continued  senseless  as  he  rushed  with  her 
down  the  staircase.  Rushed  indeed!  it  was  plunging  as  it 
were  into  a  fiery  furnace;  and  rapid  as  the  lightning-flash 
did  the  thought  sweep  through  the  baronet's  mind  that  it 
would  be  a  miracle  if  he  and  his  fair  burden  reached  the 
street  in  safety.  Vast  masses  of  the  partition  wall  kept  falling 
in;  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  whole  building  were  about  to 
give  way  and  bury  himself  and  Ariadne  in  the  smoking, 
burning  ruins.  Great  pieces  of  timber  —  especially  rude 
planks  belonging  to  the  lofts  above  the  stables  —  came 
crashing  down;  and  thus,  in  the  space  of  three  or  four 
short  minutes,  did  the  baronet  and  the  unconscious  Ariadne 
pass  through  countless  perils  of  an  appalling  character. 
But  at  length  the  damsel's  brave  deliverer  reached  the  foot 
of  the  staircase,  and  as  he  rushed  with  his  burden  through 
the  hall  and  appeared  with  her  at  the  street  door,  a  tremen- 
dous shout  of  applause  arose  from  the  assembled  multi- 
tudes. 

At  the  very  instant  that  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  thus 
reached  the  threshold  of  the  mansion  with  the  still  inanimate 
Ariadne  in  his  arms,  and  in  the  strong  glare  of  the  terrific 
conflagration,  the  maiden  was  recognized  by  Bencull.  This 
discovery  of  the  fair  stranger  of  the  hut  was  in  a  moment 
communicated  by  the  ruflian  in  a  hurried  whisper  to  the 
Buttoner  and  the  Hangman,  and  they  all  three  instinctively 
pressed  forward  toward  the  front  door  steps.  At  that  very 
instant  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  felt  a  sudden  faintness 
come  over  him,  doubtless  in  consequence  of  the  tremendous 
excitement  as  well  as  painful  exertions  through  which  he 
had  just  passed. 

"  Who  will  take  care  of  this  young  lady?  "  he  cried,  as  one 
of  his  footmen  threw  an  ample  cloak  over  the  half-naked 
form  of  Ariadne. 

But  scarcely  were  the  words  spoken  by  the  baronet, 


"AS  HE  RUSHED  WITH  HER  DOWN  THE  STAIRCASE" 

Photogravure  from  original  by  Merrill. 


PLOTTING  AND  COUNTERPLOTTING  419 


when  some  large  portion  of  the  interior  of  the  mansion  fell 
in  with  such  a  terrific  crash  that  the  crowd  retreated  in 
sudden  dismay  and  with  cries  of  alarm;  while  those  who 
were  removing  the  furniture  rushed  out  of  the  house  with 
such  haste  that  the  baronet  was  thrown  violently  forward. 
In  that  moment  of  confusion,  Bencull  caught  Ariadne 
Varian  in  his  arms,  and  as  if  it  were  written  in  the  book  of 
destiny  that  circumstances  were  to  favour  the  ruffian's 
designs  in  carrjdng  off  the  still  inanimate  maiden,  the  whole 
roof  of  the  house  fell  in  at  the  very  instant  that  he  seized 
upon  her.  The  consequence  was  that  the  fire  was  extin- 
guished, or  rather  smothered,  for  the  moment  as  completely 
as  if  a  deluge  of  water  were  poured  upon  it;  and  darkness 
fell  upon  the  scene,  —  a  darkness  all  the  more  intense 
through  succeeding  the  glare  of  the  conflagration.  Con- 
fusion became  worse  confounded  amongst  the  crowd;  and 
while  the  whole  living  mass  fell  back  from  the  vicinage  of 
the  falling  house,  as  the  sea  sweeps  away  from  the  shore 
upon  which  it  has  just  dashed  its  boiUng  billows,  it  was  no 
diflBlcult  matter  for  Bencull  to  hurry  away  with  Ariadne 
in  his  arms.  The  Hangman  and  the  Buttoner  kept  close 
at  his  heels,  an  empty  hackney-coach  was  encountered 
at  the  corner  of  the  street,  and  the  three  villains  entered  it 
with  their  lovely  burden. 

But  when  the  driver  asked  whither  he  was  to  go,  the 
men  were  thrown  into  a  sudden  perplexity.  Bencull,  how- 
ever, hastily  whispered,  Didn't  Nell  Gibson  talk  of  a  cer- 
tain Marquis  of  Leveson  who  was  Mrs.  Gale's  best  custo- 
mer? " 

"  To  be  sure,"  whispered  the  Buttoner.  "  Why  not  take 
her  direct  to  him?  " 

"  Ah!  do  you  think  of  selling  her  to  that  marquis?  "  said 
the  Hangman.  "  Well,  I  know  where  he  lives,  I  have  been 
in  his  house."  Then  turning  to  the  coachman  who  stood 
at  the  door,  and  thrusting  some  silver  into  his  hand,  Daniel 
Coffin  ordered  him  to  drive  to  Albemarle  Street. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  vehicle  stopped  at  the  door  of 
Leveson  House,  and  it  happened  that  just  at  the  same 
moment  Brockman,  the  favourite  valet  of  the  marquis,  was 
entering  the  mansion.  Seeing  the  hackney-coach  stop,  he 
inquired  of  those  inside  what  their  business  was ;  and  as  it  was 
pitch-dark  within  the  vehicle,  the  valet  did  not  observe  how 


420  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


villainous  were  the  countenances  of  the  fellows  whom  he 
thus  addressed. 

The  fact  is/'  said  the  Hangman,  in  a  rapid  whisper,  "  we 
have  got  a  young  gal  that  is  intended  for  his  lordship.  She's 
in  a  fit,  and  so  you  can  just  lift  her  into  the  house  without 
fearing  any  noise,  and  one  of  us  will  call  for  the  recompense 
the  first  thing  to-morrow  morning." 

Brockman  naturally  concluded  from  this  statement  that 
the  fellows  had  been  hired  by  his  master,  or  else  by  some 
one  in  his  lordship's  interest,  to  perform  this  particular 
service,  and  he  therefore  at  once  consented  to  receive  the 
maiden  without  asking  another  question.  The  housekeeper 
who  was  sitting  up  for  Brockman  was  summoned,  and  with 
her  aid  the  valet  lifted  Ariadne  out  of  the  coach  and  carried 
her  into  the  mansion. 

The  vehicle  then  drove  away,  the  three  ruffians  congratu- 
lating themselves  not  only  on  having  done  something  to 
annoy  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  whom  they  regarded  as  a 
sort  of  enemy,  but  likewise  on  having  adopted  so  bold  a  step 
as  to  convey  the  damsel  direct  to  the  spot  where  her  charms 
were  marketable,  instead  of  conducting  the  bargain  through 
the  medium  of  a  middle  woman,  such  as  Mrs.  Gale.  But  not 
for  a  moment  did  those  ruffians  experience  the  slightest  re- 
morse for  having  caused  so  terrible  a  conflagration  in  that 
house  beneath  the  ruins  of  which  the  charred  and  blackened 
remains  of  the  unfortunate  groom  were  indubitably 
buried. 

Meantime  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  who  had  been  thrown 
down  and  stunned  by  the  rush  of  people  from  the  front  door 
of  his  mansion,  was  borne  to  a  neighbour's  house,  where 
immediate  restoratives  were  applied.  On  coming  to  himself 
his  first  inquiry  was  for  Ariadne;  but  those  by  whom  he 
was  surrounded  could  give  him  no  information  on  the  subject. 
Supposing  that  she  had  been  taken  to  some  other  house  in  the 
vicinage,  he  sallied  forth  into  the  street  again  to  make 
further  inquiries  on  the  subject.  But  neither  from  his  own 
servants,  who  were  watching  over  the  property  removed  out 
of  the  house,  nor  from  any  of  the  crowd,  could  he  obtain 
a  satisfactory  answer.  In  fact,  no  tidings  could  he  glean  of 
Ariadne  from  the  moment  that  he  sank  down  insensible  in 
front  of  his  own  door. 

Tortured  with  cruel  misgivings,  he  sped  from  house  to 


PLOTTING  AND  COUNTERPLOTTING  421 


house  prosecuting  his  inquiries,  up  and  down  the  street,  but 
all  in  vain.  At  length  he  was  compelled,  through  sheer 
exhaustion,  to  abandon  any  further  research  for  the  present, 
and  retire  to  a  neighbouring  hotel  where  he  took  up  his  tem- 
porary quarters. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 


ANOTHER  LAMB  IN  THE  LION's  DEN 

On  recovering  her  senses,  Ariadne  Varian  found  herself 
in  bed;  and  sweeping  her  eyes  rapidly  around,  as  a  flood  of 
recollections  poured  in  unto  her  brain,  she  at  once  saw  that 
it  was  not  the  same  chamber  which  she  had  occupied  at  Sir 
Douglas  Huntingdon's.  Handsome  as  that  chamber  was, 
this  was  far  more  elegantly  furnished,  and  denoted  a  more 
exquisite  refinement  in  taste,  or  rather  in  luxury. 

A  middle-aged  woman,  looking  hke  a  housekeeper,  was 
seated  by  the  bedside;  and  though  the  instant  Ariadne 
opened  her  eyes,  this  female  endeavoured  to  look  kindly  and 
speak  soothingly,  yet  it  was  not  with  the  same  motherly 
tenderness  evinced  by  Mrs.  Baines. 

No  suspicion  of  treachery,  however,  entered  Ariadne's 
mind.  Collecting  her  ideas,  she  remembered  that  she  had 
been  alarmed  with  cries  of  Fire,"  that  springing  from  her 
couch  she  had  beheld  the  ominous  glare  at  the  window  of 
her  chamber,  and  that  the  noise  of  the  gathering  crowds  in 
the  streets  had  reached  her  ears.  She  also  recollected  that, 
overcome  with  terror,  she  had  felt  her  limbs  failing  and  her 
strength  abandoning  her;  and  as  she  remembered  nothing 
more  until  the  instant  she  awoke  in  this  strange  apartment 
where  she  now  found  herself,  she  naturally  concluded 
that  her  reminiscences  had  been  interrupted  by  a  long 
swoon. 

Utterly  unaware,  therefore,  how  her  Ufe  was  saved,  and 
who  had  saved  it,  —  unconscious,  indeed,  of  every  feature 
and  detail  of  the  terrible  conflagration,  —  her  first  hurried 
questions  were  to  inquire  where  she  was,  what  extent  of 
damage  had  been  done,  and  whether  any  lives  were  lost. 
Then,  before  even  a  single  one  of  these  queries  was  answered, 

422 


ANOTHER  LAMB  IN  THE  LION'S  DEN  423 


she  exclaimed  with  looks  and  accents  of  torturing  suspense, 
"  Tell  me,  is  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  safe?  " 

The  questions  so  hurriedly  and  excitedly  put  were  each 
and  all  equally  puzzUng  to  the  Marquis  of  Leveson's  house- 
keeper, who  was  even  more  ignorant  than  Ariadne  herself 
relative  to  what  had  occurred,  seeing  that  she,  of  course,  did 
not  know  who  the  damsel  was,  whence  she  had  been  brought, 
or  that  any  particular  house  had  been  on  fire.  Being,  how- 
ever, of  an  astute  and  cunning  disposition,  as  the  housekeeper 
of  such  a  nobleman  ought  to  be,  the  woman  gave  Ariadne 
such  vague  and  general,  but  at  the  same  time  reassuring 
answers,  that  while  she  tranquiUized  the  maiden's  mind  on 
the  one  hand,  she  elicited  on  the  other  fresh  questions  which 
in  themselves  were  explanations  of  what  had  occurred. 

You  assure  me,  then,  that  my  kind-hearted  benefactor, 
Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  is  safe?  "  said  Ariadne. 

Yes,  quite  safe." 
"  Is  the  house  totally  consumed?   And  am  I  indebted  to 
a  neighbour's  hospitahty  for  this  asylum?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  the  damage  is  great,  and  you  are  freely 
welcome  here." 

Was  it  the  baronet  who  saved  me?  "  inquired  Ariadne, 
secretly  wishing  in  her  heart  that  the  response  would  be  in 
the  affirmative. 

"  Yes,  he  rescued  you.   You  were  senseless,  I  suppose?  " 

I  had  fainted  through  terror  the  moment  I  heard  the 
alarm  of  fire." 

''Ah!  poor  young  lady,  and  enough  too  to  frighten  you! 
I  presume  you  are  some  relation  to  Sir  Douglas  Hunting- 
don?" 

"  Not  the  least,"  returned  Ariadne.  "  He  is  my  benefactor, 
that  is  to  say,  he  has  behaved  handsomely,  kindly,  and  nobly 
toward  me,  although  I  have  only  known  him  for  I  may  say 
a  few  hours,  indeed  since  last  night.  But  this  reminds  me 
that  his  excellent  housekeeper,  Mrs.  Baines,  has  behaved 
Hke  a  mother  to  me.  Do  you  know  whether  she  is  quite 
safe?  " 

I  have  already  told  you,"  answered  Lord  Leveson's 
housekeeper,  "  that  no  hves  have  been  lost." 
Is  Mrs.  Baines  here  in  this  house?  " 
"  No,  but  at  a  neighbour's." 

"Ah!  I  understand,"  said  Ariadne.    "  When  so  dreadful 


424  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


an  occurrence  as  a  fire  takes  place,  in  a  house,  the  inmates 
speedily  become  dispersed  throughout  the  neighbourhood. 
Yes,  that  is  always  the  case." 

"  And  now  tell  me  beneath  whose  roof  I  have  found  an 
asylum?  "  asked  Ariadne. 

^'  Have  you  ever  heard  of  a  nobleman  named  Leveson  — 
the  Marquis  of  Leveson?  "  inquired  the  housekeeper,  with 
becoming  caution. 

"  No,  never  —  Oh,  yes,  I  answered  too  hastily,"  said 
Ariadne,  suddenly  correcting  herself,  as  she  remembered 
having  read  that  the  Mr.  Dysart  who  was  hung  a  short  time 
back  was  the  husband  of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson's  niece. 

I  have  heard  his  lordship's  name  mentioned,  now  that  I 
think  of  it,  but  quite  in  a  casual  manner!  " 

Well,  then,  should  you  be  pleased  or  otherwise,"  asked 
the  housekeeper,  if  you  heard  that  you  were  beneath  the 
roof  of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson?  " 

"  I  should  esteem  myself  highly  honoured,"  returned 
Ariadne,  with  that  simpUcity  of  prejudice  in  favour  of  the 
aristocracy  which  was  natural  with  one  who  had  never  been 
taught,  either  by  lessons  or  by  experience,  to  loathe,  hate, 
and  abominate  that  aristocracy  as  the  greatest  curse  that 
God  in  his  wrath  or  Satan  in  his  malignity  ever  inflicted 
upon  a  country. 

"  Well,  then,"  said  the  housekeeper,  "  this  is  the  mansion 
of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  and  I  occupy  an  important  post 
in  his  lordship's  household.  His  lordship  is  an  excellent 
man,  and  I  am  sure  that  you  will  hke  him  amazingly  when 
you  come  to  know  him.  Besides  which,  he  is  certain  to  feel 
a  great  interest  in  you  after  your  adventure  of  this  night. 
And  then,  too,  there  is  this  beautiful  niece.  Lady  Ernestina 
Dysart,  one  of  the  handsomest  and  finest  women  in  England. 
Ah!  how  unfortunate  she  has  been,"  added  the  housekeeper, 
shaking  her  head  with  much  apparent  solemnity. 

Yes,  I  know  to  what  you  allude,"  said  Ariadne,  with  a 
profound  sigh,  as  the  thought  of  Dysart's  fate,  by  a  natural 
association,  conjured  up  ideas  of  Newgate,  and  forcibly 
reminded  her  of  her  brother  Theodore's  recent  misfortunes. 

It  was  when  reading  certain  circumstances  in  the  news- 
paper that  I  first  became  acquainted  with  the  name  of  the 
Marquis  of  Leveson." 

"  Well,  my  dear  young  lady,"  said  the  housekeeper,  I 


ANOTHER  LAMB  IN  THE  LION'S  DEN  425 


need  not  tell  you  that  it  was  a  sad  and  shocking  blow  for 
his  lordship  and  his  lordship's  niece.  But  I  see  that  I  must 
not  chatter  in  this  way  to  you  any  longer.  Pray  compose 
yourself  to  rest.  I  will  leave  a  Hght  in  your  room,  and  on 
this  table  by  your  bedside  you  will  find  cordials,  restoratives, 
and  various  kinds  of  refreshment,  should  you  feel  exhausted 
or  faint.  I  will  visit  you  early  in  the  morning,  and  hope  to 
learn  that  you  have  slept  off  the  effects  of  the  alarm  and 
nervousness  produced  by  the  fire." 

The  housekeeper  then  withdrew,  and  Ariadne  speedily 
sank  into  a  profound  slumber,  httle  suspecting  into  what  a 
maze  of  perils  she  had  been  so  perfidiously  betrayed. 

The  first  thing  in  the  morning  Brockman  acquainted  the 
marquis  with  the  arrival  of  a  young  lady  in  the  middle  of  the 
night;  and  as  the  valet  had  been  conversing  with  the  house- 
keeper only  a  few  minutes  before  he  repaired  to  his  master's 
chamber,  he  had  gleaned  from  her  lips  all  that  she  herself  had 
gleaned  from  Ariadne's.  The  Marquis  of  Leveson  was  un- 
feignedly  astonished  when  he  heard  of  this  arrival,  and 
Brockman  saw  at  once  that  his  master  had  really  not  ex- 
pected any  such  occurrence. 

But  while  they  were  still  deliberating  upon  the  event,  and 
the  valet  was  explaining  to  the  marquis  how  the  fair  stranger 
had  spoken  of  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  and  the  fire  which 
had  occurred  at  his  house,  a  footman  knocked  at  the  door 
to  announce  that  a  man,  who  declined  giving  his  name, 
sohcited  an  immediate  audience  of  his  lordship.  That  this 
was  one  of  the  men  who  had  brought  the  fair  stranger  to  the 
mansion  during  the  night  was  presumable;  and  the  marquis, 
anxious  to  learn  more  of  the  matter,  at  once  proceeded  to 
the  room  where  the  individual  was  waiting. 

The  visitor  was  none  other  than  the  Hangman,  dressed 
out  in  his  very  best  apparel;  but  his  ill-favoured  counte- 
nance and  sinister  look  were  not  much  improved  by  the 
advantages  of  a  Sunday  garb.  However,  the  marquis  did  not 
expect  to  encounter  an  elegant  gentleman  in  the  individual 
who  had  brought  the  fair  stranger  to  his  house,  but  at  the 
same  time  he  little  suspected  that  the  ruffian  who  now 
stood  in  his  presence  was  the  pubhc  executioner,  the  man 
who  had  been  admitted  into  the  joint  confidence  of  his 
niece  Ernestina  and  the  prince  regent  relative  to  the  affair 
of  the  deceased  Paul  Dysart. 


426  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  Well,  and  what  is  your  business?  "  inquired  the  noble- 
man. 

"  I  called  about  the  young  girl  that  me  and  a  couple  of 
pals  of  mine  left  here  last  night/'  said  the  Hangman,  with 
the  most  brazen  effrontery. 

"  And  pray,"  demanded  the  marquis,  assuming  a  stern 
look,  "  what  made  you  bring  that  young  female  hither?  " 

"  You  see,  my  lord,"  replied  Daniel  Coffin,  "  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon's  house  was  burned  to  the  ground  during  the 
past  night.  Me  and  my  pals  happened  to  be  mingling  quite 
promiscuous  in  the  crowd  that  the  fire  collected,  and,  lo 
and  behold!  the  baronet  brought  down  a  young  lady  in  his 
arms,  half-naked  and  in  a  fainting  state.  So,  seeing  that  she 
was  beautiful  as  an  angel,  we  got  possession  of  her,  whipped 
her  into  a  coach,  and  brought  her  here  —  " 

But  why  did  you  bring  her  hither?  "  demanded  the 
marquis.   "  That  is  the  point  I  want  you  to  clear  up." 

Oh,  there's  no  gammon  about  me,  my  lord,"  exclaimed 
Coffin.  "  The  fact  is,  I've  been  in  those  secret  chambers 
of  your  lordship's,  and  have  looked  at  all  the  pretty  things 
in  the  shape  of  statues  and  paintings  —  " 

"Ah!"  ejaculated  the  nobleman,  the  truth  flashing  to 
his  comprehension.   "  Then  you  are  —  " 

"  Dan'el  Coffin,  at  your  lordship's  service,"  was  the  reply. 
"  If  your  lordship  wants  references,"  added  the  fellow,  with 
cool  self-sufficiency,  "  I  can  give  'em  either  to  Lady  Ernes- 
tina  or  the  prince  regent." 

"  Well,  I  know  now  who  you  are  and  all  about  you,"  said 
the  marquis,  scarcely  able  to  conceal  the  sensation  of  utter 
loathing  which  he  experienced  as  he  gazed  upon  the  public 
executioner.  "  In  plain  terms,  then,  you  fancied  that  in 
consequence  of  having  seen  my  private  apartments,  you 
would  not  be  doing  wrong  in  bringing  the  young  girl  to 
me?  " 

"  That's  just  what  it  is,  my  lord,"  answered  the  Hang- 
man. 

"  But  do  you  know  who  she  is?  "  inquired  the  marquis. 
"  What  is  her  station  in  fife?  Is  she  the  mistress  of  Sir 
Douglas  Huntingdon,  a  relative,  or  a  servant?  In  fact,  tell 
me  all  about  her." 

"  She's  not  a  servant,  but  looks  like  a  very  genteel  young 
person,  almost  a  lady,  I  should  say.   But  one  thing  is  very 


ANOTHER  LAMB  IN  THE  LION'S  DEN  427 


certain,  she's  not  the  baronet's  mistress;  for  I  happen  to 
know  that  she  hasn't  even  known  him  many  hours." 

^'  But  a  few  minutes  are  enough  to  ruin  a  woman's  virtue, 
let  alone  a  few  hours,"  said  the  marquis.  However,  that 
is  of  little  consequence,  since  the  girl  is  really  beautiful. 
And  now  after  all  you  have  said,  do  you  mean  me  to  under- 
stand that  you  are  not  well  acquainted  with  her?  Of  course 
you  are!    What  is  her  name?  " 

^'  I  can't  tell  your  lordship  —  I  know  no  more  than 
Adam,"  was  the  reply.  The  fact  is,  in  a  few  words,  me  and 
my  pals  were  at  Shooter's  Hill  on  a  Uttle  business  the  night 
before  last,  and  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  who  was  travelling 
that  way,  fell  into  our  hands.  Within  the  same  hour,  an- 
other accident  also  threw  this  young  lady  in  our  way;  and, 
to  be  brief,  they  both  succeeded  in  effecting  their  escape 
and  getting  off  together.  So  it  was  natural  that  the  baronet 
should  give  the  young  girl  an  asylum,  and  that's  the  way  she 
came  to  be  at  his  house.  But  hasn't  your  lordship  seen  her 
yet?  " 

Not  yet.  I  am,  however,  told  that  she  is  really  very  \ 
beautiful,"  observed  the  marquis. 

Beautiful,"  cried  the  Hangman,  with  a  diabolical  leer, 
she's  so  sweetly  pretty  that  if  I  hadn't  thought  your  lord- 
ship would  give  a  good  price  for  her,  I  should  have  kept  her 
for  myself.  I  don't  know  much  of  these  matters,  but  I  must 
say  that  you  need  only  look  in  her  face  to  see  that  she's 
innocence  itself." 

"  Well,  and  so  now  you  are  come  for  your  reward?  "  said 
the  marquis.    "  What  do  you  expect?  " 

Fifty  guineas  won't  hurt  your  lordship,"  answered  the 
Hangman. 

"  There,  take  that,"  said  the  marquis,  throwing  down  his 
purse,  which  he  knew  contained  more  than  the  sum  de- 
manded. 

Daniel  Coffin  picked  up  the  purse  from  the  table  where 
the  nobleman  had  tossed  it,  and  then  took  his  departure, 
well  pleased  with  the  success  of  his  visit. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 


A  CATASTROPHE 

The  chamber  to  which  Ariadne  Varien  had  been  consigned 
at  Leveson  House  was  the  one  that  communicated  with  the 
dressing-room  whence  a  secret  door  opened  into  the  private 
suite  of  apartments  already  so  often  referred  to  in  our  narra- 
tive. This  bedchamber  was  sometimes  occupied  by  the 
marquis  himself;  but  he  as  frequently  slept  in  a  room 
on  a  higher  story,  for  the  sake  of  the  convenience  offered 
by  contiguous  baths.  Thus,  on  the  particular  occasion  now 
referred  to,  the  nobleman  had  spent  the  night  in  this  last- 
mentioned  chamber;  and  therefore  was  it  that  the  house- 
keeper, with  fiendish  forethought,  consigned  Ariadne  to 
the  one  whence  the  communication  led  to  the  private  suite 
of  apartments. 

On  awaking  after  some  hours  of  refreshing  sleep,  Ariadne 
recalled  to  mind  everything  that  had  occurred  during  the 
past  night;  but  still  it  was  without  the  sHghtest  misgiving 
or  suspicion  she  remembered  that  she  was  now  beneath  the 
roof  of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson. 

While  she  was  thus  collecting  her  ideas,  the  housekeeper 
entered  the  room,  bearing  a  tray,  containing  the  young 
maiden's  breakfast. 

"Is  it  very  late?  "  inquired  Ariadne,  fancying  that  she 
must  have  slept  a  long  time. 

"  It  is  a  Httle  past  ten  o'clock,"  replied  the  housekeeper; 
"  but  you  will  do  well  to  take  your  breakfast  in  bed  as  you 
have  passed  through  so  much  excitement  and  alarm  during 
the  past  night.  Moreover,  you  have  no  apparel  of  any  kind 
here,  and  I  must  see  about  getting  some  clothes  presently. 
His  lordship  will  come  and  pay  you  a  visit  immediately, 
and  will  then  confer  with  you  on  your  plans  and  prospects." 

428 


A  CATASTROPHE 


429 


"  What,  here!  "  ejaculated  Ariadne;  surprised  at  the  re- 
mark and  conceiving  that  she  had  not  properly  understood 
it. 

"  And  why  not?  "  asked  the  housekeeper,  with  a  smile. 

The  marquis  is  old  enough  to  be  your  father;  indeed 
you  are  a  mere  child  to  him.  Moreover,  I  am  going  to  remain 
here  with  you,  my  love." 

Still  Ariadne  experienced  a  secret  displeasure  at  the  idea 
of  a  stranger  visiting  her  bedroom.  Her  pure-mindedness 
and  natural  dehcacy  shrank  from  the  thought;  but  she 
scarcely  dared  to  venture  any  further  remonstrance,  as  she 
felt  that  she  was  under  great  obUgations  to  those  who  had 
given  her  an  asylum  beneath  that  roof.  Besides  which,  as 
she  had  no  garments  to  put  on,  —  not  a  stitch  nor  rag  in  the 
whole  world  beyond  the  night-drapery  that  she  wore,  — 
she  could  not  rise  and  dress  herself  to  receive  the  marquis, 
and  it  was  natural  that  he  should  wish  to  know  whom  he  had 
beneath  his  roof.  But  this  reflection  suddenly  gave  rise  to 
another:  namely,  what  account  could  she  render  of  herself? 
What  name  should  she  pass  by?  To  refuse  all  replies  to  the 
questions  that  might  be  put  would  seem  not  only  suspicious, 
but  rude  to  a  degree;  and  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  how  could 
she  tell  the  truth?  How  announce  the  name  of  Ariadne 
Varian?  Ah!  the  poor  girl  was  indeed  unused  to  the  arts 
of  deceit  and  unskilled  in  the  ways  of  duplicity. 

She  was  sitting  up  in  bed,  pondering  mournfully  upon  these 
points,  and  partaking  of  some  chocolate  which  the  house- 
keeper had  poured  out  for  her,  when  a  gentle  knock  was 
heard  at  the  door.  The  housekeeper  at  once  opened  it, 
and  the  marquis  entered  the  room.  Ariadne  instinctively 
shrank  beneath  the  bedclothes,  while  her  cheeks  were  suf- 
fused with  blushes. 

How  is  the  fair  guest  with  whose  presence  circumstances 
have  thus  honoured  me?  "  said  the  marquis,  assuming  his 
softest  voice  and  blandest  manner.  "  Really,  the  incidents 
which  have  thus  brought  you,  young  lady,  within  these  walls 
are  so  romantic  that  they  invest  you  with  additional  charms." 

Ariadne  said  nothing.  She  was  overwhelmed  with  con- 
fusion. But  averting  her  blushing  countenance,  she  felt 
such  strange  sensations  come  over  her  —  sensations  of 
mingled  alarm,  outraged  modesty,  and  bitter  annoyance  — 
that  she  was  ready  to  burst  into  tears. 


430  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  You  are  welcome  to  my  house,  young  lady/'  resumed 
the  marquis,  "  most  welcome.  Indeed  the  longer  you  grace 
it  with  your  presence,  the  happier  I  shall  feel.  My  excellent 
housekeeper  here  will  see  that  your  shghtest  wants  shall 
not  merely  be  attended  to,  but  even  anticipated  —  " 

"  I  thank  your  lordship,"  murmured  Ariadne,  now  recov- 
ering the  power  of  utterance,  "  but  I  shall  not  intrude  on 
your  lordship's  hospitahty  much  longer.  Indeed,  if  your 
lordship's  housekeeper  will  only  be  kind  enough  to  furnish 
me  with  apparel,  I  shall  at  once  prepare  to  take  my  de- 
parture," she  added,  her  sense  of  violated  decency  now 
triumphing  over  her  fears  and  imparting  firmness  to  her 
tone. 

Well,  well,  my  dear  young  lady,  you  are  your  own 
mistress,  no  doubt,"  said  the  marquis,  believing  Ariadne's 
conduct  to  be  nothing  more  nor  less  than  mere  affectation; 
for  he  could  not  fancy  that  it  was  possible  for  her  to  have 
passed  even  a  few  short  hours  in  the  dwelHng  of  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon  and  have  come  forth  pure  and  chaste.  "  But 
methinks  that  this  precipitation  on  your  part  to  leave  my 
mansion,  where  there  is  every  disposition  to  treat  you 
kindly—" 

"  My  lord,"  interrupted  Ariadne,  now  turning  her  eyes 
toward  the  marquis  while  her  countenance  was  flushed  with 
indignation,  "  I  know  not  what  may  be  the  manners  and 
customs  of  fashionable  life,  but  in  the  sphere  to  which  I 
belong,  your  presence  in  my  chamber  would  not  only  be 
deemed  a  violation  of  all  the  rules  of  hospitality,  but  a 
positive  outrage  and  insult." 

"  Upon  my  honour,  you  take  my  conduct  most  unkindly," 
exclaimed  the  marquis.  But  I  will  withdraw  for  the 
present,  since  you  appear  to  wish  it." 

He  then  quitted  the  room,  making  a  rapid  sign  to  the 
housekeeper;  and  the  moment  the  door  closed  behind  him, 
Ariadne  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears. 

"  My  dear  girl,  don't  take  on  hke  this,"  said  the  house- 
keeper. Why,  I  am  really  surprised  at  you.  His  lordship 
did  not  mean  any  offence,  how  could  he?  He  perhaps  spoke 
in  rather  an  offhand  manner;  but  then  that  was  his  famil- 
iarity of  tone  toward  one  in  whom  he  felt  interested.  I  can 
assure  you  that  the  marquis  is  generosity  and  liberality 
personified.    If  you  asked  him  for  any  boon  on  which  you 


A  CATASTROPHE 


431 


set  your  mind,  you  would  have  it.  And  young  ladies  have 
their  Httle  whims  and  caprices,  you  know  —  " 

Good  heavens!  what  means  this  strange  language? 
cried  Ariadne,  all  the  suspicions  and  misgivings  which  within 
the  last  few  minutes  had  been  aroused  in  her  mind  now 
becoming  excited  to  a  painful  degree.    ^'  If  you  really  wish 
to  befriend  me  —  " 

What  can  I  do,  young  lady?   Speak!  " 

Procure  me  some  apparel.  I  cannot  offer  to  recom- 
pense you  at  this  moment,  but  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
when  once  I  shall  have  seen  Sir  Douglas  Hunting- 
don —  " 

Ah!  "  ejaculated  the  housekeeper,  now  perfectly  con- 
vinced in  her  own  mind  that  Ariadne  was  the  baronet's 
mistress.  But  wherefore  should  you  be  in  such  haste 
to  quit  this  mansion?  Do  you  desire  to  return  to  that 
Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  of  whom  you  have  spoken?  " 

"  I  do  —  he  is  my  only  friend,"  exclaimed  Ariadne,  with 
passionate  vehemence,  and  not  reflecting  for  a  moment 
what  interpretation  might  be  put  upon  the  manner  in  which 
she  spoke  of  the  baronet.  But  will  you,  will  you,  my 
good  woman,  procure  me  some  fitting  apparel?  Surely 
Lady  Ernestina  Dysart  would  take  compassion  upon  me, 
or  one  of  the  female  servants  might  lend  me  a  gown,  a  shawl, 
a  bonnet,  in  fine,  the  barest  necessaries  —  " 

"  To  be  sure,  my  dear  girl,"  said  the  housekeeper.  I 
will  procure  all  you  want  in  good  time." 

At  once!  "  cried  Ariadne,  springing  from  the  couch. 
"  Procure  me  some  raiment,  I  will  dress  myself  with  all 
possible  haste,  and  will  then  intrude  no  longer —  " 

''Ah!  you  are  wrong  to  speak  of  intrusion,"  interrupted 
the  housekeeper.  "  But  come  into  this  dressing-room. 
Here  are  all  the  requisites  of  the  toilet,  and  I  will  soon  pro- 
cure you  fitting  apparel." 

''  Oh,  then  I  shall  thank  you  indeed!  "  exclaimed  Ariadne, 
somewhat  tranquilHzed  by  this  assurance. 

But  while  she  was  combing  out  her  beautiful  long  flaxen 
hair  in  the  dressing-room  adjoining  the  bedchamber,  the 
housekeeper  took  advantage  of  a  moment  when  the  maiden's 
back  was  turned  to  touch  the  secret  spring  and  open  the 
door  leading  into  the  suite  of  private  apartments. 

"  I  asked  you  just  now  whether  you  really  wished  to  return 


432  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


to  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon/'  resumed  the  wily  woman, 
and  you  declared  that  such  was  your  desire." 

He  is  my  benefactor,  I  have  already  told  you  as  much/' 
said  Ariadne.  "  I  am  under  obligations  to  him  —  deep 
obUgations/'  she  repeated,  with  a  profound  sigh,  as  she 
thought  of  her  brother  to  whom  the  baronet  had  despatched 
his  valet  James  with  reassuring  messages  and  with 
money. 

"  You  are  wrong,  young  lady,  you  are  wrong,"  continued 
the  housekeeper,  to  think  of  returning  to  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon,  when  you  may  be  so  much  happier  at  the  house 
of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson.  Behold,  my  dear  girl,  behold 
this  splendidly  furnished  apartment  into  which  the  dressing- 
room  opens,"  she  exclaimed,  drawing  back  the  secret  door. 
"  All  these  rooms  that  you  see  shall  be  yours,  with  domestics 
to  wait  upon  you,  if  you  will  only  consent  to  remain  here. 
Ah!  my  dear  young  lady,  I  am  sure  I  shall  not  supplicate 
in  vain." 

The  amazement  produced  by  these  words  overwhelmed 
as  it  were  the  alarm  previously  excited,  and  Ariadne,  de- 
sisting for  a  moment  from  the  operation  of  combing  out  her 
hair,  turned  upon  the  woman  a  look  so  full  of  wonder  and 
startled  inquiry  that  it  even  expressed  her  feelings  more 
eloquently  than  the  words  to  which  she  simultaneously  gave 
utterance. 

"  Wherefore  should  you  invite  me  thus  to  remain  within 
these  walls?  Wherefore  should  you  offer  me  the  induce- 
ment of  these  elegant  rooms?  Indeed,  what  know  you  of 
me,  that  such  a  proposal  should  have  emanated  from  your 
lips?  " 

Ah!  young  lady,"  said  the  housekeeper,  adopting  a 
tone  of  gentle  persuasion,  "  did  you  not  observe  that  the 
marquis  surveyed  you  with  admiration?  And  surely,  surely 
you  will  not  be  so  cruel  as  to  treat  him  with  indifference  or 
scorn?  " 

Good  heavens!  what  words  are  these  that  I  hear?  " 
exclaimed  Ariadne,  the  colour  coming  and  going  in  rapid 
transitions  upon  her  cheeks.  "  It  is  impossible  that  this 
can  be  the  house  of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson!  Impossible 
that  any  nobleman  would  have  intruded  into  the  chamber 
which  his  hospitality  had  afforded  to  a  young  and  friendless 
girl!    Impossible  that  any  female  in  his  service  would  dare 


A  CATASTROPHE 


433 


to  address  me  in  the  language  which  has  just  fallen  from 
your  lips!  " 

"  Now,  if  it  comes  to  the  matter  of  that/'  exclaimed  the 
housekeeper,  suddenly  throwing  off  the  mask  and  speaking 
in  a  tone  of  coarse  insolence,  "  I  don't  see  why  you  should 
pretend  to  be  so  very  particular.  Come,  come,  young  woman, 
here's  enough  of  this  nonsense,  and  I  have  already  adopted 
the  coaxing  tone  too  long.  I  suppose  you  meant  to  sell  your- 
self to  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  even  if  you  have  not  done 
it  already.  But  let  me  tell  you  that  the  Marquis  of  Leveson 
will  prove  more  profitable  to  you.  I  saw  just  now  by  his 
lordship's  words  that  he  does  not  regard  you  as  the  stub- 
bornest  of  prudes,  or  yet  as  a  dragon  of  virtue;  and  I  know 
his  humour  well  enough  to  feel  assured  that  he  won't  waste 
much  time  in  coming  to  the  point  with  you.  Indeed  he  has 
only  retired  for  a  few  minutes,  just  to  give  me  the  opportunity 
of  being  explicit  with  you." 

A  mortal  paleness  gradually  spread  itself  over  Ariadne's 
countenance,  as  these  words  smote  upon  her  ears,  carrying 
as  it  were  the  bhght  of  a  pestilence  down  into  her  very  soul ; 
and,  staggering  toward  a  seat,  she  sank  upon  it  crushed  and 
overwhelmed  by  a  terrible  consternation.  A  faintness  seized 
upon  her,  a  film  spread  rapidly  over  her  eyes,  and  she  felt 
that  her  senses  were  abandoning  her,  when  the  sudden  sound 
of  a  door  opening  and  shutting  recalled  her  to  herself. 
Startled  back  as  it  were  into  complete  consciousness,  she 
threw  her  affrighted  looks  around,  and  perceived  that  she 
was  now  alone.  The  housekeeper  had  left  her,  and  it  was 
the  sound  of  the  outer  door  of  the  bedchamber  that  she  had 
heard  opening  and  closing  so  abruptly.  But  that  door 
almost  immediately  opened  again,  and  now  it  was  the  Mar- 
quis of  Leveson  who  reappeared. 

A  scream  of  terror  burst  from  the  Hps  of  Ariadne;  and 
not  only  did  alarm,  but  also  a  feeling  of  outraged  modesty 
prompt  her  to  fly  from  his  presence,  for  be  it  understood 
that  she  was  in  a  state  of  semi-nudity,  having  on  nothing 
but  the  night-gear  which  left  her  neck  and  bosom  all  exposed. 
As  she  turned  thus  abruptly  away  from  the  approaching 
marquis,  she  beheld  the  door  which  the  housekeeper  had  left 
open  when  she  displayed  the  handsomely  furnished  apart- 
ment to  which  it  led. 

"  Beautiful  girl,"  exclaimed  the  marquis,  catching  sight 


434  THE  COURT   OF  LONDON 


of  her  naked  charms  and  instantaneously  inflamed  by  the 
view.  Resistance  is  vain!  besides,  wherefore  prove  so 
coy  —  so  cruel  —  " 

But  Ariadne  had  rushed  forward  into  the  apartment  to 
which  the  secret  door  opened,  and  as  she  shut  it  promptly 
behind  her,  she  turned  around  in  eager  search  for  the  lock, 
that  she  might  secure  herself  against  the  marquis.  But 
what  was  her  surprise  when  she  beheld  nothing  but  the 
uniform  and  unbroken  surface  of  the  handsomely  papered 
wall,  no  lock,  no  handle,  not  even  so  much  as  a  keyhole,  to 
indicate  the  presence  of  a  door.  The  thought  flashed  to  her 
mind  that  she  had  fallen  into  some  new  snare,  and,  over- 
come with  a  sense  of  terror  now  wrought  up  to  an  excruciat- 
ing pitch,  she  sank  down  into  one  of  the  splendid  armchairs 
with  which  the  apartment  was  furnished.  But  at  the  same 
instant  did  another  rending  scream  burst  from  her  lips,  as 
the  sharp  click  of  the  perfidious  mechanism  fell  upon  her 
ears,  and  as  her  arms  and  shoulders  were  clasped  by  the 
springs  that  started  forth  from  the  chair! 

At  the  same  time  the  invisible  door  by  which  she  had 
entered  that  room  was  opened,  and  the  Marquis  of  Leveson 
made  his  appearance.  Instantaneously  shutting  the  door 
behind  him,  he  stood  feasting  his  eyes  upon  the  charms  of 
his  intended  victim.  But,  oh,  his  hard  heart  melted  not 
with  pity  as  that  sweet  countenance  was  upturned  with 
an  expression  so  earnestly  imploring,  so  pathetically  en- 
treating toward  his  own;  no  pity  nor  remorse  had  he  for 
that  damsel's  sake;  all  his  ideas,  all  his  aspirations  were 
concentrated  in  the  burning  heat  of  one  absorbing  passion. 

My  lord,  my  lord,"  murmured  Ariadne,  have  mercy 
upon  me." 

But  as  the  maiden  uttered  these  words  in  a  dying  tone, 
her  head  drooped  forward,  the  gaspings  of  her  breath  ceased, 
and  the  palpitations  of  her  snowy  bosom  were  no  longer 
perceptible. 

She  has  fainted,"  said  the  marquis  to  himself.  "  But 
she  is  not  the  first  who  —  " 

The  nobleman's  reflection  was  suddenly  cut  short  by  a 
mortal  alarm  which  seized  upon  him,  for  as  he  stooped  down 
and  looked  at  Ariadne,  it  suddenly  struck  him  that  she  was 
dead. 

He  hastily  placed  his  hand  upon  her  heart;  but  it  beat 


A  CATASTROPHE 


435 


not,  and  the  bosom  which  his  hand  thus  pressed  in  its  nudity- 
was  as  still  as  if  death  were  indeed  there.  With  a  cold 
shudder  running  through  his  entire  form,  he  touched  the 
secret  spring  which  released  her  from  the  grasp  of  the 
mechanism,  and  lifting  her  in  his  arms  he  bore  her  back 
into  the  bedchamber  and  laid  her  upon  the  couch.  Still 
did  she  continue  senseless;  and  if  that  were  not  the  sleep 
of  death,  then  assuredly  was  it  a  swoon  of  a  most  alarming 
character. 

Vainly  did  the  marquis  sprinkle  her  countenance  with 
water  and  apply  a  scent-bottle  to  her  nostrils.  She  moved 
not,  her  heart  was  still,  her  pulse  imperceptible,  and  all  vital 
colouring  was  disappearing  from  her  hps.  Her  nails  — 
those  beautifully  shaped  nails,  so  pellucid  with  their  roseate 
tint  a  few  moments  before  —  now  were  becoming  of  a  bluish 
appearance,  and  this  circumstance  gave  a  still  deeper  shock 
to  the  soul  of  the  marquis,  for  he  regarded  it  as  the  unmis- 
takable sign  of  death. 

He  rang  the  bell,  and  the  housekeeper  answered  the  sum- 
mons. Nothing  could  equal  the  woman's  dismay  on  be- 
holding Ariadne  thus  stretched  lifeless  on  the  couch;  and 
the  marquis  saw  by  the  sudden  horror  which  seized  upon 
her  what  she  also  thought,  —  his  worst  fears  being  then 
confirmed,  that  the  maiden  was  indeed  dead. 

Almost  wild  with  alarm,  he  bade  the  housekeeper  hasten 
and  fetch  Lady  Ernestina  thither;  and  in  a  minute  or  two 
the  woman  returned  accompanied  by  his  lordship's  niece. 
But  Ernestina  at  once  declared  that  all  human  aid  was 
unavailing,  and  that  the  damsel  was  nd  more. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  excruciation  of  alarm  which  now 
reigned  in  that  chamber.  What  was  to  be  done?  How  dis- 
pose of  the  corpse?  How  account  for  the  presence  of  the 
young  female  in  the  house  at  all?  The  marquis  paced  to 
and  fro  in  the  chamber  like  a  madman.  The  housekeeper 
fell  upon  her  knees  by  the  side  of  the  bed,  and  began  giving 
way  to  the  bitterest  lamentations,  while  Lady  Ernestina, 
conquering  her  emotions  somewhat  in  the  presence  of  the 
awful  dilemma,  stood  gazing  upon  the  beautiful  face  of  the 
dead,  revolving  in  her  mind  a  thousand  different  schemes 
for  the  disposal  of  the  corpse. 

Good  heavens!  what  a  calamity,  what  an  awful  calam- 
ity! "  exclaimed  the  marquis,  wringing  his  hands  at  one 


436  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


moment,  and  then  gesticulating  with  them  frantically  the 
next. 

Oh,  it  is  enough  to  hang  us  all,"  groaned  the  housekeeper. 

What  on  earth  will  become  of  us?  " 

Calm  yourselves,  calm  yourselves,  I  beseech  you," 
said  Ernestina.  It  is  only  by  extreme  prudence,  circum- 
spection, and  caution  that  we  shall  avoid  discovery,  that 
is  to  say,  if  the  occurrence  must  be  concealed.  But  why 
not  let  it  be  avowed?  The  girl  was  not  murdered,  at  least 
not  murdered  in  the  positive  meaning  of  the  term  —  " 

"  But  there  must  be  a  coroner's  inquest,  and  all  the  annoy- 
ances and  dangers  of  an  inquiry,"  said  the  marquis.  "  How 
am  I  to  account  for  the  girl  being  here?  Under  what  circum- 
stances am  I  to  say  she  died?  If  recognized  and  identified 
as  the  one  who  was  rescued  last  night  from  the  fire  at  Hunt- 
ingdon's house,  how  came  she  here?  Wherefore  was  she 
brought  to  such  a  distance,  instead  of  being  taken  to  some 
dwelling  close  at  hand?  Ah!  the  case  is  fraught  with  terrible 
suspicion,  Ernestina,  you  must  see  that  it  is." 

Oh,  yes,"  said  the  housekeeper,  with  bitter  lamentations. 

It  must  be  hushed  up  —  it  must  be  hushed  up." 
Then  do  you  know  what  is  to  be  done?  "  said  Ernestina, 
a  sudden  idea  striking  her.      You  must  send  for  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon,  tell  him  all  that  has  happened,  and  throw 
yourself  upon  his  mercy.   There  is  nothing  else  to  be  done." 

"  But  if  this  girl  was  his  mistress,"  exclaimed  the  marquis, 
^'  he  might  seek  a  cruel  revenge.  And  yet  it  is  hardly  possible 
that  he  can  care  anything  for  her,  seeing  that  their  acquaint- 
ance has  only  been  of  a  few  hours  —  Yes,  yes,"  he  ex- 
claimed, suddenly  interrupting  himself,  "  your  advice  must 
be  adopted,  Ernestina.  Huntingdon  would  not  ruin  an  old 
friend." 

Besides,"  observed  the  nobleman's  niece,  "  you  will 
ascertain  who  the  young  girl  was,  and  whether  there  will 
be  much  inquiry  made  by  relatives  or  by  friends  into  the 
circumstances  of  her  death." 

''Be  it  then  as  you  say,"  observed  the  marquis.  "  And 
now,  Ernestina,  for  God's  sake  take  this  distracted  woman 
away  with  you,  and  endeavour  to  console  her  —  or  at  all 
events  to  make  her  hold  her  peace  —  while  I  send  for  Sir 
Douglas  Huntingdon." 

Lady  Ernestina  accordingly  persuaded  the  housekeeper 


A  CATASTROPHE 


437 


to  accompany  her  away  from  the  chamber  of  death,  and  the 
marquis,  quitting  the  room  also,  and  locking  the  door  behind 
him,  hastened  to  make  a  confidant  of  his  valet  Brockman, 
whom  he  despatched  forthwith  in  search  of  the  baronet. 
In  about  half  an  hour  Brockman  returned  accompanied 
by  Sir  Douglas,  whom  he  had  found  at  a  hotel  in  the  imme- 
diate neighbourhood  of  his  own  ruined  mansion;  and  as  the 
valet  had  not  given  the  baronet  the  least  intimation  of 
wherefore  his  presence  was  required  in  Albemarle  Street, 
he  was  naturally  much  surprised  at  being  thus  peremptorily 
summoned  thither.  At  first,  indeed,  he  had  refused  to  yield 
to  Brockman's  request,  fancying  that  some  treacherous  or 
spiteful  trick  might  be  meditated  against  him  in  revenge 
for  the  part  he  had  played  in  rescuing  Louisa  Stanley  from 
the  power  of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson.  But  perceiving,  by 
Brockman's  manner,  that  the  affair  was  urgent,  although 
the  valet  declined  entering  into  explanatory  particulars, 
Sir  Douglas  ultimately  agreed  to  accompany  him  to  Leveson 
House. 

On  arriving  there,  the  baronet  was  at  once  conducted 
into  an  apartment  where  he  found  the  marquis  alone,  but 
pacing  to  and  fro  in  a  state  of  dreadful  excitement  and 
agitation. 

"  Good  heavens,  Leveson,"  he  exclaimed,  ^'  what  is  the 
matter?  " 

"  Tell  me,  Huntingdon,  tell  me,  before  I  speak  a  word  to 
the  point,"  said  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  advancing  hur- 
riedly, and  seizing  the  baronet  by  the  hand,  "  tell  me  whether 
there  is  any  ill  feeling  on  your  part  toward  me?  " 

^'  Not  a  whit,"  cried  Sir  Douglas;  "  on  the  contrary,  I 
was  fearful  that  you  would  break  off  your  friendship  with 
me  on  account  of  my  intrusion  upon  your  proceedings  at 
so  critical  a  moment  the  day  before  yesterday.  But,  my 
dear  Leveson,  as  you  called  at  Stratton  Street  and  saw  Miss 
Bathurst  on  that  morning,  you  are  of  course  acquainted  with 
the  entire  mystery  relative — " 

"  Ah!  'my  dear  Huntingdon,  all  the  Miss  Bathursts,  and 
Clara  Stanleys,  and  Venetias  in  the  world  are  at  this  moment 
nothing  to  me,"  interrupted  the  marquis;  "  for  you  see 
before  you  one  of  the  most  miserable  of  men  —  " 

"  Indeed!  I  do  observe  that  you  are  pale  and  agitated  — 
very  pale,"  cried  the  baronet.   "  But  what  is  the  matter? 


438  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Is  there  anything  I  can  do  for  you?  Though  having  troubles 
enough  of  my  own  at  this  moment,  what  with  the  burning 
down  of  my  house,  the  loss  of  a  young  lady  in  whom  I  had 
suddenly  conceived  the  deepest  interest  —  " 

"  Oh!  now,  now  I  am  more  wretched  than  ever,"  ex- 
claimed the  marquis.  Huntingdon,  my  honour,  almost 
my  life,  is  in  your  hands  —  " 

"  Good  heavens!  what  mean  you?  "  cried  the  baronet, 
nearly  as  much  stunned  as  he  was  bewildered. 

Will  you  swear  to  screen  me,  swear  to  hold  me  harmless, 
swear  not  to  betray  me  —  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  will  swear  anything,  if  you  only  relieve  me 
from  this  torturing  suspense." 

"  Know,  then,  that  the  young  lady  whom  you  have  lost  —  " 
Good  God!  has  she  fallen  into  your  hands?  " 
Yes,  but  I  knew  not  —  " 

Where  is  she?  Where  is  she?  "  exclaimed  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon,  seizing  the  marquis  by  the  collar  of  his  coat. 
"  Oh,  if  you  have  dared  to  harm  a  hair  of  her  head  —  " 

Heavens!  how  shall  I  tell  you  the  dreadful  truth!  " 
almost  yelled  forth  the  wretched  marquis  as  he  writhed 
in  the  grasp  of  the  baronet. 

"  Villain,  you  have  ravished  her,"  thundered  Sir  Douglas, 
hurhng  the  marquis  from  him  with  terrific  violence.  Then, 
dashing  his  open  palms  forcibly  against  his  brow  in  all  the 
wild  fury  of  excitement,  he  exclaimed,  "  Would  to  God  that 
you  had  reported  her  death  to  me  rather  than  this!  " 

Her  death,  her  death,"  repeated  the  marquis,  leaning 
upon  the  chair  against  which  the  baronet  had  flung  him. 

Yes,  it  is  her  death  that  I  have  to  report,  for  she  is  a  spot- 
less virgin  so  far  as  I  am  concerned." 

The  baronet  staggered  back  a  few  paces,  and  then  reeled 
as  if  seized  with  a  sudden  vertigo ;  for  despite  the  confusion 
into  which  his  ideas  were  suddenly  thrown,  still  was  there 
a  strong  lurid  beam  penetrating  them  with  a  horrible  clear- 
ness, bringing  forth  in  dread  relief  the  fact  that  the  young 
girl  was  no  more. 

Dead,"  he  at  length  muttered  between  his  teeth,  "  dead, 
do  you  say?  "  he  repeated,  in  a  low,  thick  voice,  as  with  a  pale 
countenance  and  with  wildness  in  his  eyes  he  gazed  upon 
the  marquis. 

Yes,  she  is  dead,"  answered  Leveson,  "  and  if  all  my 


A  CATASTROPHE 


439 


fortune  could  bring  her  back  to  life,  it  should  be  surrendered 
up." 

Tell  me  how  this  happened,"  said  the  baronet,  pressing 
his  hands  to  his  brow  as  if  to  steady  his  reeling  brain.  Then, 
sitting  down,  he  appeared  to  await  the  explanations  with  the 
vacancy  of  look  and  the  abstracted  manner  of  one  whose 
senses  are  in  a  whirl. 

"  I  will  tell  you  all  —  everything,"  said  the  marquis,  in 
a  hurried  tone  of  breathless  agitation,  "  and  then  must  I 
throw  myself  upon  your  mercy.  In  the  middle  of  the  night 
some  men  brought  that  girl  hither,  I  knew  not  who  she  was, 
I  never  saw  her  before,  I  had  not  bargained  with  them  for  the 
service  which  they  thus  thrust  upon  me.  The  men  told  some 
tale  about  you  and  the  young  girl  having  been  together  at 
a  hut  on  Shooter's  Hill." 

''Ah!  then  I  understand  who  the  villains  were,"  exclaimed 
the  baronet,  indignation  once  more  bringing  back  the  colour 
to  his  cheeks.    "  But  go  on  —  go  on." 

"  They  brought  the  girl  here,  then,  after  the  fire  at  your 
house,"  resumed  the  marquis,  "  and  she  was  received  into 
the  mansion.  Believing  her,  in  plain  truth,  to  have  been 
your  mistress,  I  fancied  that  her  coyness  was  assumed,  and 
perhaps  I  was  too  hasty  —  too  importunate.  At  all  events 
she  sought  refuge  in  that  very  room  which  contains  the  chairs, 
—  you  know  what  chairs  I  mean,  —  and  sinking  into  one, 
the  fright  I  presume  was  too  much  for  her  —  and  —  and 
she  died." 

"  Poor  Ariadne!  "  murmured  the  baronet  to  himself,  and, 
averting  his  head,  he  dashed  away  a  tear. 

"  On  my  life,"  continued  the  marquis,  "  I  have  told  you 
the  truth,  Huntingdon.  I  have  explained  the  events  pre- 
cisely as  they  took  place,  and  I  need  scarcely  say  that  every 
possible  remedy  and  restorative  was  applied  —  " 

"Enough,  enough!"  ejaculated  Sir  Douglas,  suddenly. 
"  Let  me  see  her." 

This  command,  uttered  with  a  stern  and  abrupt  imperious- 
ness,  was  at  once  obeyed  by  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  and  he 
conducted  the  baronet  to  the  room  where  Ariadne  lay. 
On  the  threshold  of  the  chamber,  Sir  Douglas  turned  suddenly 
around  and  motioned  the  marquis  not  to  follow  him;  then, 
closing  the  door  abruptly,  he  remained  alone  in  the  chamber 
with  the  dead.  • 


440  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Advancing  slowly,  hesitatingly,  and  with  a  sensation  of 
awe,  to  the  side  of  the  couch.  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  beheld 
all  that  remained  of  Ariadne  Varian,  stretched  like  a  beauti- 
ful statue  before  his  eyes.  Her  light  hair,  swept  entirely 
away  from  her  brows,  fell  back  over  the  pillow  upon  which 
her  head  rested,  thus  revealing  the  whole  of  that  sweet 
countenance,  with  the  delicately  chiselled  and  faultless 
features  on  which  a  smile  of  angelic  resignation  appeared 
to  rest,  as  if  in  the  very  moment  of  dissolution  she  had  experi- 
enced the  certainty  that  she  was  about  to  pass  from  the  woes 
of  earth  to  the  joys  of  heaven.  Her  eyelids  were  shut  close, 
with  the  brown  lashes  resting  upon  the  alabaster  cheeks, 
so  that  she  appeared  as  if  she  were  only  sleeping.  The  lips 
had  remained  slightly  apart,  affording  a  glimpse  of  the  pearls 
within,  and  thus  strengthening  the  impression  that  she  was 
not  dead  but  only  slept.  The  slight  drapery  which  she  wore 
had  settled  in  such  a  way  as  to  develop  the  gentle  undulations 
and  softly  swelling  contours  of  her  sylphid  form;  the  arms 
remained  gracefully  rounded,  like  those  of  one  in  a  slumber, 
and  not  with  the  rigidity  of  the  last  sleep  from  which  there 
is  no  awakening  upon  earth;  and  the  symmetrical  beauty 
of  the  lower  limbs  was  likewise  revealed  by  the  plaits  of  her 
virgin  vesture.  Alas!  that  this  should  be  the  raiment  of  the 
dead. 

Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  gazed  upon  her  with  a  sort  of 
incredulity  that  she  was  really  no  more,  and  for  nearly  a 
minute  he  thought  she  was  only  sleeping.  He  hoped  so,  and 
he  earnestly  prayed  within  himself  that  such  might  be  the 
case.  Yet  the  longer  he  looked  down  upon  that  alabaster 
countenance,  the  fainter  grew  that  hope ;  while  the  stronger 
became  the  conviction  that  she  was  indeed  no  more. 

Yes,  her  spirit  has  fled  for  ever,"  he  inwardly  mused. 
"  The  young,  the  innocent,  the  beautiful,  has  gone  to  that 
heaven  which  is  her  fitting  home.  She  looks  as  if  she  did  but 
sleep,  and  yet  there  is  the  absence  of  all  vital  colouring  from 
those  cheeks,  and  the  breath  comes  not  from  between  those 
lips.  Her  form  is  motionless,  though  not  yet  stricken  with 
the  rigidity  of  death.  Oh,  Ariadne,  I  knew  thee  but  for  a  few 
hours,  and  yet  in  that  short  time —  But  this  is  childish 
on  my  part,"  ejaculated  the  baronet  aloud,  as  he  made  a 
sudden  effort  to  master  his  emotions.  Then,  feeling  that 
his  eyes  were  dim  and  that  tears  were  trickling  down  his 


A  CATASTROPHE 


441 


cheeks,  he  no  longer  sought  to  check  the  natural  current 
of  his  grief,  and  sitting  down  on  the  edge  of  the  couch,  he 
took  the  hand  —  the  small  cold  hand  —  of  Ariadne  in  his 
own;  and  averting  his  eyes  from  her  marble  countenance, 
he  said  aloud,  and  with  a  passionate  outburst  of  feeling,  I 
cannot  bear  to  look  upon  that  inanimate  countenance, 
which  was  so  lovely  in  its  animation." 

Then  for  upwards  of  a  minute  he  remained  in  that  position, 
wrapped  up  in  the  deepest  thought,  until  at  length  regaining 
somewhat  of  his  lost  firmness,  he  rose  abruptly,  threw  one 
last  lingering  look  upon  the  deceased,  and  then  quitted  the 
room. 

On  the  landing  outside  he  found  the  marquis  waiting  for 
him,  and  in  silence  did  they  proceed  back  to  the  apartment 
where  they  had  previously  conversed. 

"  That  young  girl.  Lord  Leveson,"  said  the  baronet,  in 
a  deep  and  solemn  tone,  has  a  brother  who  will  sooner  or 
later  come  to  demand  an  account  of  his  sister.  Of  me  will 
he  demand  that  account,  inasmuch  as  I  had  written  to  him 
to  state  that  she  had  found  an  asylum  —  an  honourable 
asylum  —  with  me;  and  when  he  comes  therefore  to  inquire 
for  her,  what  answer  am  I  to  give?  " 

"  You  will  not  compromise  me?  "  said  the  marquis,  in  a 
tone  of  earnest  entreaty.  Can  it  not  be  averred  that, 
rendered  houseless  by  the  fire,  the  damsel  was  consigned  to 
the  care  of  my  housekeeper  or  niece,  whichever  you  like  to 
name,  but  that  she  died  of  the  fright  produced  by  that  con- 
flagration? " 

Yes,  this  tale  must  indeed  be  told,"  said  the  baronet. 
"  And  now  let  instructions  be  given  for  the  funeral  of  the 
poor  girl." 

And  what  name  is  to  be  placed  upon  her  coffin?  "  asked 
Lord  Leveson,  inwardly  rejoiced  to  find  that  no  exposure 
was  to  take  place. 

What  name?  "  repeated  the  baronet.  There  is  no 
reason  now  why  her  real  name  should  be  concealed,  there- 
fore upon  her  coffin-lid  have  inscribed  the  words,  Ariadne 
Varian." 

^'  What!  "  ejaculated  the  marquis,  immediately  struck 
by  the  name,     surely  this  poor  girl  —  " 

"  Yes,  I  know  what  is  passing  in  your  mind,"  said  Hunting- 
don, in  a  mournful  tone.      She  was  the  sister  of  him  the 


442  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


narrative  of  whose  escape  you  have  read  in  the  news- 
papers." 

But  her  brother,"  exclaimed  the  marquis,  "  is  he  not 
a  fugitive?  And  will  he  ever  come  to  claim  his  sister?  " 

If  I  can  obtain  for  him  a  free  pardon,  for  which  I  am 
about  to  interest  myself,"  returned  the  baronet.  "  But  of 
all  this  no  matter ;  suffice  it  for  you.  Lord  Leveson,  to  know 
that  I  am  interested  in  the  young  man's  behalf.  Would  to 
God  that  it  were  within  the  range  of  mortal  power  to  recall 
his  sister  to  life!  " 

With  these  words  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  hurried  away 
in  a  state  of  mind  such  as  he  had  never  experienced  before. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 


SYNCOPE  AND  TETANUS 

Dimly  and  feebly  did  a  sense  of  returning  consciousness 
steal  into  Ariadne's  mind,  slowly,  slowly  as  the  glimmering 
of  dawn  struggles  against  the  mists  of  night  in  the  eastern 
horizon.  Whether  she  had  fainted  or  slept  she  knew  not;  nor 
indeed  had  she  the  power  to  reflect  upon  the  point,  for  her 
thoughts  were  all  in  confusion,  not  painfully  agitating  in  the 
brain,  but  in  dull,  numb,  inert  chaos.  That  there  had  been 
a  period  of  oblivion  she  had  something  like  a  distinct  notion; 
but  whether  it  had  lasted  for  days,  hours,  or  only  minutes,  she 
knew  not,  nor  had  she  sufficient  clearness  of  mind  to  con- 
jecture. 

But  as  the  sense  of  consciousness  came  back,  —  as  this 
reawakening  of  the  intellect  began  to  take  place,  —  she 
became  aware  that  there  was  somebody  in  the  room.  She 
endeavoured  to  open  her  eyes,  but  could  not.  Nevertheless, 
she  felt  that  the  light  of  day  was  upon  those  closed  lids 
and  that  it  was  not  a  stupendous  darkness  that  weighed  them 
down.  Amidst  the  dull  and  stagnant  chaos  of  her  thoughts, 
flickered  in  upon  her  intellect  a  somewhat  brighter  beam 
than  the  primal  one  of  returning  consciousness;  and  this 
new  ray  of  intelligence  seemed  to  enlighten  her  the  least 
thing  more  distinctly  as  to  her  exact  condition.  She  be- 
came aware,  indeed,  that  she  was  stretched  upon  a  couch; 
but  after  that  vain  attempt  to  open  her  eyes,  she  remained 
for  perhaps  two  or  three  whole  minutes  without  any  further 
endeavour  to  move.  Then  hearing  a  voice  suddenly  speaking 
near  her,  the  tones  flowing  murmuringly  upon  her  ears  with- 
out her  being  able  to  understand  the  words  uttered,  she 
instinctively  attempted  to  turn  around  toward  the  speaker. 
But  no!  she  was  bound  hand  and  foot  by  some  invisible 

443 


444  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


and  unknown  spell,  enchained  by  some  stupendous  and 
indomitable  influence,  turned  into  a  statue  so  far  as  her 
physical  being  was  concerned,  and  animated  with  only  just 
a  sufficiency  of  the  spiritual  essence  to  give  her  a  dim  and 
twilight  idea  of  her  own  condition. 

Still  was  her  appreciation  of  this  condition  too  indistinct, 
too  vague,  and  too  obscure  to  produce  any  poignant  feeling. 
Sensation  she  had,  it  was  true,  but  so  lulled,  so  steeped  in 
a  mystic  lethargy,  so  dull,  numb,  and  sluggish,  that  it  had 
not  sufficient  vitality  for  any  keenness  of  reflection,  whether 
painful  or  otherwise. 

Gradually  the  idea  began  to  become  straightened  in  Ari- 
adne's mind  relative  to  the  presence  of  some  one  near  her; 
and  at  length  it  seemed  as  if  an  inspiration  dawned  in  unto 
her  soul,  whispering  the  name  of  Douglas  Huntingdon. 
Then  she  appeared  to  acquire  a  knowledge  that  there  was 
such  a  person  as  he  in  the  world;  but  how  or  when  she  had 
known  him  before,  she  had  no  distinct  comprehension. 
She  heard  him  breathing  syllables  of  sorrow  near  her,  and 
then  she  felt  him  take  her  hand  in  his  own.  A  pulse  seemed 
to  thrill  through  her  entire  frame  at  that  contact,  —  yes, 
thrill  even  pleasurably,  as  if  it  were  the  touch  of  life  giving 
back  animation  into  one  on  whom  death  sat  heavy  and 
cold;  but  yet  that  thrill  was  only  faint  and  feeble,  and  it 
imparted  not  complete  vitality  nor  broke  the  spell  that 
entranced  the  maiden. 

She  felt  her  hand  clasped  in  that  of  Huntingdon,  and  she 
felt,  too,  by  the  touch  that  his  hand  burned  with  the  fever- 
heat  of  excitement,  and  that  her  own  was  as  cold  as  ice. 
She  longed  —  oh,  how  she  longed  —  to  return  the  pressure 
which  she  felt;  for  now  a  strange,  vague,  and  ill-defined 
perception  of  the  real  truth  of  her  condition  stole  into  her 
mind,  and  made  her  feel  a  desire  to  make  known  the  fact 
that  she  was  indeed  alive.  But  not  in  the  slightest,  not  in 
the  faintest,  not  in  the  remotest  degree  could  she  return  that 
pressure;  not  a  muscle  could  she  move,  not  a  nerve  quivered 
in  response  to  her  will.  The  faintest  breeze  has  more  power 
to  shake  the  stateliest  tree  than  her  volition  could  exercise 
over  her  own  faculties  of  motion.  Still  as  death,  motionless 
as  a  statue,  she  lay,  with  a  gentle  glimmering  of  the  spark 
of  life  that  was  just  conscious  of  its  own  existence,  but  could 
not  make  this  existence  known  to  another.   And  now  there- 


SYNCOPE  AND  TETANUS  445 


fore  arose  in  her  mind  the  conviction  that  she  breathed  not 
though  she  hved,  and  on  the  other  hand,  that  she  was  not 
dead,  though  animation  was  all  but  utterly  suspended. 

A  still  brighter  clearness  shed  its  influence  upon  her 
mind,  —  that  mind  which  thus,  after  having  first  awakened 
as  it  were  in  the  midst  of  a  vast  hall  where  a  single  lamp 
burned  dimly  in  the  midst  of  the  blackness,  now  felt  as  if 
additional  lamps  were  being  lighted  up  one  by  one,  so  as  to 
set  forth  by  these  slow  degrees  some  fresh  features  of  the 
place.  She  heard  those  words  to  which  the  baronet  gave 
utterance  with  so  much  feeling,  "  I  cannot  bear  to  look 
upon  that  inanimate- countenance  which  was  so  lovely  in  its 
animation."  Yes,  she  heard,  she  understood  these  words. 
She  even  perceived  the  impassioned  vibration  of  tone  which 
characterized  them,  the  amount  of  anguish  which  they  ex- 
pressed. And  again  did  she  experience  a  thrill  of  the  pulse 
through  her  entire  frame,  but  a  thrill  that  was  felt  not  by 
him  who  held  her  hand  and  who  believed  it  was  the  hand 
of  the  dead.  Then  this  hand  of  hers  was  quitted  by  that 
of  the  baronet.  The  contact  had  ceased,  the  fevered  flesh 
and  the  marble-cold  flesh  touched  each  other  no  more,  and 
instead  of  the  thrill  of  the  vibrating  pulse,  it  was  an  ice  chill 
that  struck  to  the  very  core  of  the  maiden's  heart. 

But  now  she  felt  —  intuitively,  instinctively  felt  —  that 
Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  was  gazing  upon  her.  Her  eyelids 
were  closed,  as  we  have  already  said;  but  it  was  in  looking 
upward  as  it  were  from  the  mind  itself  —  by  the  exertion, 
so  to  speak,  of  an  inner  sense  of  vision  —  that  she  thus  felt 
that  he  was  looking  upon  her.  She  could  even  understand 
the  look,  she  could  comprehend  its  nature,  lingering,  longing, 
sad;  and  mournful.  But,  O  God!  why  did  she  not  return  it? 
Just  Heaven!  why  could  she  not? 

She  heard  the  door  close,  and  now  she  knew  that  she  was 
alone.  The  silence  suddenly  struck  her  as  being  awful,  awful 
in  the  extreme;  and  then,  too,  at  the  same  instant,  a  more 
horrible  clearness  sprang  up  in  her  mind,  a  fearful  light  flam- 
ing up  in  her  soul.  In  a  word,  she  understood  all  in  a  moment, 
that  she  was  in  a  species  of  trance,  a  syncope,  and  that  she 
was  believed  to  be  dead. 

Dead!  great  Heaven,  what  awful  thoughts  now  sprang 
up  in  her  imagination!  Was  the  hand  of  death  in  reality 
upon  her?  Was  she  dying?  Would  she  soon  be  really  dead? 


446  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Death!  its  bitterness  was  not  past,  its  sting  was  there, 
and  the  grave  perhaps  would  soon  assert  its  victory.  But 
to  die  —  Oh,  to  die  while  she  felt  that  she  was  so  young, 
—  for  her  thoughts  were  now  every  instant  becoming  more 
vividly  clear  and  more  keenly  perceptive,  —  to  die  so 
young,  it  was  terrible,  terrible!  Then  her  brother,  too, — 
for  she  now  remembered  him  and  thought  of  him,  yes,  his 
image  suddenly  sprang  up  clearly  and  tangibly  as  it  were 
before  her,  —  this  well-beloved  brother,  what  would  he 
think,  what  would  he  say  when  he  heard  that  she  had  died 
thus  prematurely,  thus  suddenly?  But  no,  she  could  not 
die,  she  must  not  die  yet.  Innocent,  stainless  of  crime,  ay, 
even  immaculate  though  she  were  in  mind  as  well  as  in  body, 
she  was  not  prepared  to  die.  She  would  move  her  limbs, 
she  would  turn  around  on  that  couch,  she  would  raise  herself 
up,  and  she  would  exhibit  all  the  powers  of  full,  living, 
breathing,  moving  vitality.  Alas!  vain,  vain  were  the 
thoughts,  vain  the  aspirations,  vain  the  endeavours;  so 
far  from  stirring  hand  or  foot,  she  could  not  even  move 
a  muscle  of  her  countenance,  nor  unclose  an  eyelid,  nor  feel 
her  lips  quiver  with  the  breath  of  life. 

We  said  that  her  mind  had  now  a  horrible  clearness, 
and  such  indeed  it  was.  For  her  thoughts  began  to  flow 
in  still  more  frightful  and  hideous  channels,  depicting  all 
the  paraphernalia  of  death,  —  the  laying  out  of  the  corpse 
(in  her  case  perhaps  a  seeming  corpse),  the  putting  on  of 
the  raiment  of  the  dead,  the  enclosing  in  the  shell,  the 
screwing  down  of  the  lid  of  the  coffin,  the  consignment  to 
the  grave,  and  the  shovelling  in  of  the  damp  and  wormy  clay. 
Heavens!  as  all  these  harrowing  thoughts  swept  through 
the  brain  of  the  poor  young  girl,  she  endured  an  agony  of 
agonies  ineffable  for  human  language,  —  an  agony  all  the 
more  agonizing  because  endured  by  one  whose  form  was 
motionless  and  could  not  bend  or  yield  as  it  were  with  recoil, 
trembling,  or  shudder,  to  the  dreadful  influence  of  those 
thoughts.  And  now,  with  the  extremest  poignancy  was  the 
fact  presented  to  her  mind  that  she  was  not  even  nearly  dead, 
but  that  her  state  was  one  presenting  that  phenomenon 
so  strange,  so  awful,  and  so  terrible  in  the  history  of  human 
nature. 

The  horror  produced  by  all  these  thoughts  gradually 
merged  into  the  more  stupefying  state  of  consternation. 


SYNCOPE  AND  TETANUS  447 


and  then  a  dreamy  repose  stole  over  the  young  maiden. 
Oblivion  supervened,  and  thus  for  awhile  were  her  senses 
steeped  in  forget  fulness.  How  long  this  interval  lasted, 
she  however  knew  not ;  and  when  she  returned  to  conscious- 
ness she  became  aware  that  her  posture  on  the  couch  was 
somewhat  changed.  She  was  now  lying  completely  on  her 
back,  and  she  felt  that  her  arms  were  placed  close  by  her 
sides,  and  that  her  feet  were  likewise  in  close  and  parallel 
contact.  Next  she  perceived,  by  the  sensation,  that  some- 
thing was  fastened  under  her  chin;  and  as  she  began  to 
ponder  upon  the  meaning  of  all  this,  the  recollection  of 
what  had  passed  just  previously  to  the  last  interval  of 
oblivion  slowly  came  back  to  her  mind,  until  at  length  the 
awful,  the  crushing,  the  appalling  thought  settled  in  her  soul 
that  she  was  laid  out  as  a  corpse. 

Horror  of  horrors!  With  full,  poignant,  and  vivid  keen- 
ness, did  all  her  consciousness  return;  and  she  once  more 
became  possessed  of  every  faculty  of  perception.  There 
was  no  doubt  as  to  her  actual  position:  she  knew  it,  she 
understood  it,  she  felt  it  all.  She  was  believed  to  be  dead, 
she  was  laid  out  in  the  usual  manner  ere  being  consigned 
to  the  coffin,  and  the  winding-sheet  already  wrapped  her 
form.  The  thought  of  all  this  was  maddening,  maddening. 
Her  brain  appeared  to  be  on  fire,  and  the  sensation  of  gnawing 
flames  had  she  also  at  the  heart,  though  that  heart  beat  not. 
Her  eyelids  were  closed,  nor  could  she  open  them;  never- 
theless lightnings  appeared  to  flash  before  her  vision.  It 
was  horrible,  horrible,  to  experience  all  this,  and  yet  not  be 
able  so  much  as  to  relieve  the  harrowed  feelings  with  a 
shudder  or  a  shriek.  For  when  something  dreadful  meets 
the  eye  or  strikes  upon  the  mind,  it  is  a  relief  to  shudder 
in  recoil  or  to  send  forth  an  ejaculation  from  the  lips.  But 
here  was  the  unhappy  girl  bound  as  it  were  in  the  adamantine 
chains  of  utter  petrification,  a  marble  body  with  a  soul  of 
fire,  incapable  of  performing  the  least  function  of  life,  and 
yet  inspired  with  all  life's  keenest  and  acutest  sensations. 

All  the  faculties  belonging  to  the  mind  seemed  to  have 
concentrated  in  themselves  the  vitality  which  naturally 
belonged  to  the  body,  and  all  the  senses  were  sharpened  to 
even  a  painful  degree.  Thus  she  could  hear  sounds  the 
faintest  and  slightest  imaginable,  such  as  insects  picking 
in  the  wood  of  the  bedstead  with  the  noise  of  the  death- 


448  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


watch.  She  could  smell  the  clean  linen  which  wrapped  her 
as  a  winding-sheet,  and  which,  perhaps  from  the  nature 
of  the  soap  used  in  washing  it,  had  a  certain  earthy  odour 
that  made  it  indeed  appear  the  raiment  of  the  dead.  She 
could  feel  all  the  plaits  and  folds  of  these  cerements  as  they 
lay  loose  upon  one  portion  of  her  form  and  tighter  on  another; 
she  could  feel  the  linen  passing  around  her  head,  and  the 
cambric  that  was  tied  as  a  bandage  to  hold  up  her  chin. 
Through  her  closed  hds  could  her  eyes  perceive  the  light  of 
the  sun  streaming  through  the  curtains  of  the  window  facing 
the  couch,  —  those  beams  which  borrowed  a  deeper  redness 
from  the  hue  of  those  curtains.  Thus  were  her  senses 
acuminated  to  the  keenest  edge;  and  as  the  body  was  left 
motionless,  those  faculties  appeared  to  exercise  themselves 
with  all  the  concentration  of  vitality  which  they  had  absorbed 
as  it  were  from  the  physical  powers. 

In  the  midst  of  her  harrowing  thoughts  she  heard  the 
door  open,  and  the  housekeeper's  voice  say  in  a  low  and 
mournful  tone,     Walk  in,  walk  in,  Mr.  Stimson,  walk  in." 

Then  the  door  was  closed  again  very  gently,  and  two 
persons  advanced  up  to  the  side  of  the  bed,  the  housekeeper 
and  the  man  whom  she  had  called  Mr.  Stimson. 

What  a  sweet  corpse  the  dear  girl  does  make,"  said  the 
housekeeper,  assuming  a  whimpering  tone  and  heaving  three 
or  four  deep-drawn  sighs.  ''Ah!  Mr.  Stimson,  she  wasn't 
here  many  hours,  but  I  really  had  taken  quite  a  fancy  to  her. 
She  was  so  amiable  and  good,  and  I  do  believe  that  in  the 
same  short  time  she  grew  quite  as  fond  of  me." 

"  Poor  young  lady!  "  returned  Mr.  Stimson,  in  a  hollow 
and  lugubrious  voice.   "  How  come  it  all  about,  ma'am?  " 

"  Why,  you  see,  Mr.  Stimson,"  resumed  the  housekeeper, 
"  this  young  lady  was  staying  at  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon's, 
and  his  house  was  burned  down  last  night.  Such  rapid 
progress  did  the  fire  make,  that  the  dear  girl  well-nigh  fell 
a  sacrifice  to  the  flames;  but  a  couple  of  noble-hearted 
gentlemen  —  one  an  ofl&cer  in  the  Guards,  and  the  other 
the  son  of  a  bishop  —  rescued  her  at  the  peril  of  their  lives, 
and  the  ofl&cer  wrapped  her  up  in  his  great  military  cloak. 
Then  she  was  put  into  a  hackney-coach  that  was  passing 
at  the  time;  and  as  Sir  Douglas  is  very  intimate  here,  he 
thought  the  best  thing  he  could  do  was  to  send  her  to  be 
taken  care  of  by  Lady  Ernestina.    The  fright  which  the 


SYNCOPE  AND  TETANUS  449 


young  lady  received  from  the  fire  was  no  doubt  dreadful; 
but  we  thought  she  had  quite  recovered,  and  didn't  dream 
that  she  was  in  any  possible  danger.  But  about  ten  o'clock 
this  morning  the  poor  dear  creature  seemed  to  be  taken 
so  bad  suddenly  that  we  got  quite  alarmed,  and  before  we 
could  even  send  for  the  doctor  she  was  dead.  Lord  bless 
you,  Mr.  Stimson,  she  went  off  just  like  a  child  going  to 
sleep  in  its  mother's  arms;  and  with  her  dear  head,  poor 
young  creature,  pillowed  on  my  bosom,  she  breathed  her 
last." 

"  Well,  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  Stimson,  "  it's  a  wery  great 
saytisfaction  for  you  to  know  that  you  did  your  best,  while 
death  was  doing  his  wust,  and  that  she  went  off  like  that 
there,  with  her  head  on  your  buzzim.  She's  as  lovely  a 
corpse  as  ever  I  had  the  measuring  of." 

"  Yes,"  whimpered  the  housekeeper,  hasn't  she  got  a 
sweet  pretty  face,  and  her  flesh  is  just  like  wax.  Poor  thing! 
the  worms  will  soon  make  havoc  upon  it." 

"  Poor  thing!  "  echoed  Mr.  Stimson,  in  his  deep,  sepulchral 
voice,  which  he  purposely  made  as  hollow  and  lugubrious 
as  possible.  "  The  wums  indeed  will  prey  upon  the  poor 
gal." 

It  can  scarcely  be  necessary  to  inform  the  reader  that 
Ariadne's  feelings  were  now  drawn  to  such  an  extreme 
tension,  that  it  appeared  as  if  her  brain  must  burst  and  her 
heart-strings  snap.  She  had  no  difficulty  in  discovering, 
from  the  preceding  discourse,  who  Mr.  Stimson  was.  He 
was  evidently  the  undertaker.  But  the  vile  hypocrisy  of 
that  woman,  the  housekeeper,  the  false  version  she  gave  of 
the  circumstances  of  Ariadne's  arrival  at  the  mansion, 
the  assumed  sympathy  and  commiseration  with  which  she 
sought  to  play  her  part  in  the  presence  of  the  undertaker,  — 
all  this  added  to  the  poignancy  and  painfulness  of  the 
scene.  But  then  the  discourse  itself,  to  hear  herself  styled 
a  corpse,  then  the  remark  that  her  flesh  was  colourless  as 
wax,  and  lastly  the  observation  —  the  frightful  observa- 
tion —  relative  to  the  worms  soon  preying  upon  her  —  Oh, 
all  this  was  the  most  exquisite  refinement  of  ineffable 
agonies! 

But  this  crucifixion  of  the  feelings  was  not  yet  passed 
through.  She  felt  the  undertaker  place  his  rule  upon  her 
to  measure  her  length  for  the  coffin,  and  she  heard  him 


450  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


mutter  to  himself,  in  a  low  undertone,  the  exact  measure- 
ment of  feet  and  inches  as  he  thus  took  it.  Good  God! 
how  within  herself  she  battled.  Oh,  how  she  battled  for 
the  power  of  sending  forth  one  long,  loud,  thrilling  shriek! 
How  she  strove  —  Heaven  alone  can  tell  how  she  strove  — 
to  force  a  vent  for  the  transcending  agony  of  her  feelings! 
But  no;  all  her  efforts  were  vain  and  useless.  The  spell  — 
the  awful  spell  —  was  upon  her;  and  still  like  a  marble 
woman  was  she  animated  with  a  soul  of  fire. 

And  so  you  say,  ma'am,'^  observed  Mr.  Stimson,  speak- 
ing in  a  low  voice  that  was  well  suitable  for  the  chamber 
of  death,  but  yet  with  something  more  of  a  business  tone 
than  hitherto,  "  and  so,  ma'am,  it  is  to  be  a  wery  decent 
funeral,  not  overexpensive,  but  respectable?  " 

"  Just  so,''  responded  the  housekeeper.  ^'  His  lordship 
has  entrusted  the  whole  management  to  me;  and  I  think, 
Mr.  Stimson,"  she  added,  in  a  significant  tone,  "  that  you 
and  I  can  make  everything  comfortable  between  us?  " 

Oh!  to  be  sure,"  responded  the  undertaker.  "Come, 
ma'am,  tell  me  candidly  how  high  you  dare  go,  and  then  I 
can  tell  you  how  much  profit  you  and  me  can  sheer  betwixt 
us." 

"  Well,  I  don't  think  his  lordship  would  mind  sixty  or 
seventy  guineas." 

"  Wery  good,"  observed  Mr.  Stimson,  with  a  low,  hollow 
chuckle  which  appeared  to  issue  from  a  coffin  or  a  vault, 

let's  say  seventy-five  guineas,  and  then  we  can  divide 
thirty  betwixt  us.    That  will  make  fifteen  for  your  sheer." 

"  Agreed,"  said  the  housekeeper,  "  but  you  must  send 
in  a  regular  proper  bill,  because  the  marquis  sometimes 
takes  it  into  his  head  to  look  over  his  accounts." 

Don't  be  afeard,  ma'am.  I  will  put  down  fifteen  guineas 
for  a  brick  grave,  and  it  sha'n't  be  no  brick  grave  at  all. 
Then,  how  many  do  you  think  will  attend  the  funeral?  " 

"  I  don't  know  who  will  attend  it:  the  marquis,  I  sup- 
pose. Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon,  —  just  for  appearance' 
sake,  —  and  that's  all." 

Well,  we  can  put  down  ten  mourners,"  observed  Stim- 
son; 'cause  why,  the  bill  must  be  made  out  to  look  respect- 
able. Ten  mourners,  that  will  be  a  guinea  each  for  hat-band 
and  gloves,  and  a  guinea  each  for  the  use  of  mourning  cloaks, 
so  there  we  have  twenty  guineas  at  once.  Fifteen,  as  already 


SYNCOPE  AND  TETANUS  451 


said,  for  the  brick  grave,  makes  thirty-five.  Coffin,  fifteen, 
makes  fifty;  shell,  five  guineas,  and  use  of  pall,  five  guineas, 
there's  sixty.  Hearse  and  mourning  coaches,  ten  guineas, 
that's  seventy;  and  ten  of  my  chaps,  half  a  guinea  each, 
there's  five  guineas,  and  that  makes  up  the  seventy-five." 

"  Well,  you  really  are  one  of  the  cleverest  gentlemen  I 
ever  met  with,"  said  the  housekeeper,  with  a  subdued  laugh. 

But  after  all,  fifteen  guineas  apiece  is  very  little  to  get 
out  of  this  business." 

Well,"  observed  Mr.  Stimson,  "  I'll  manage  to  add  five 
to  your  sheer.  Let  me  see,  I  said  fifteen  guineas  for  the 
coffin,  of  course  I  meant  a  first-rate  oaken  one;  but  I  tell 
you  what  I'll  do,  I'll  give  a  common  one,  painted  and  grained 
to  look  hke  oak,  and  that's  the  way  I'll  do  it.  The  poor  gal 
there  won't  be  none  the  wiser." 

"  Ah!  you  dear,  clever  fellow,"  chuckled  the  housekeeper 
in  a  subdued  tone.  *^  A  man  of  your  talent,  Mr.  Stimson, 
ought  to  have  been  Prime  Minister,  instead  of  an  under- 
taker." 

Well,  ma'am,  I  think  I  have  got  a  little  talent,"  returned 
Mr.  Stimson,  with  a  complacent  manner;  "  but  I  am  wery 
well  satisfied  with  my  wocation,  and  don't  know  that  I 
should  improve  it  particular  by  a  change.  But  I  think  we 
have  done  here  all  that  is  required  now?  " 

"  One  word,"  said  the  housekeeper,  "  when  shall  the 
funeral  take  place?  " 

"  Suppose  we  say  this  day  week?  "  suggested  the  under- 
taker. "  The  corpse  is  a  nice  fresh  'un,"  he  continued,  laying 
his  great  heavy  rough  hand  upon  Ariadne's  cheek,  and 
won't  spile.  Besides,  it  will  look  better  to  take  plenty  of 
time  for  the  funeral;  'cause  why,  we  are  'to  pretend  to  have 
a  brick  grave  and  a  oak  coffin." 

Then  let  us  say  this  day  week,"  rejoined  the  house- 
keeper, and  she  thereupon  quitted  the  room,  accompanied 
by  Mr.  Stimson. 

Ariadne  was  once  more  alone.  Alone  indeed;  but,  good 
heavens!  with  what  hideous,  horrible,  excruciating  thoughts, 
—  thoughts  that  swept  like  fiery  arrows  through  her  brain, 
conjuring  up  images  from  the  charnel-house  and  the  grave. 
Like  ghastly  spectres  treading  to  the  solemn  measure  of 
a  dirge,  did  they  pass  in  array  before  her  mental  vision. 
Yes,  for  she  was  treated  as  one  that  was  dead,  laid  out  as 


452  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


a  corpse,  and  had  just  been  an  ear- witness  to  the  arrange- 
ments devised  for  her  own  funeral.  She  had  felt  the  rule  of 
the  undertaker  taking  her  measure  for  a  coffin,  and  she  had 
felt  likewise  his  rough  hand  laid  upon  her  cheek  with  the 
cold  brutal  indifference  of  one  who  is  accustomed  to  handle 
the  dead.  And  then  that  woman,  who  had  affected  so  much 
sympathy  in  her  behalf,  was  now  actually  trafficking  in 
her  supposed  death,  —  trafficking  for  profit  to  be  derived 
from  the  funeral  of  her  whose  fate  she  pretended  to  deplore. 
And  then  that  cold-blooded,  heartless,  hypocritical  scoun- 
drel, —  the  undertaker  himself,  —  he  also  was  making  a 
market  of  the  dead.  He  also  was  practising  the  slimy 
ways  of  the  money-grubber  in  respect  to  the  supreme  and 
most  solemn  rites  of  mortahty  and  of  the  Christian  faith. 

All  these  circumstances,  all  these  reflections,  combined 
to  aggravate,  if  possible,  the  horror  which  previously  filled 
Ariadne's  soul;  and  she  already  felt  as  if  she  were  in  the 
depths  of  the  cold  grave,  with  the  clay  filled  up  over  the 
coffin. 

Again  did  the  stupor  of  oblivion  enwrap  her  mind;  and 
when  she  reawoke  to  consciousness  utter  darkness  rested 
upon  her  closed  eyelids.  The  silence  and  the  blackness  of 
night  entombed  her,  —  stupendous  night,  always  fraught 
with  vague  and  dreamy  fears  even  for  those  in  fullest  health, 
but  now  marked  by  ten  thousand  terrors  for  her  who  was 
alive  in  the  secrecy  of  her  own  sensations,  but  dead  to  the 
exercise  of  all  faculties,  dead  also  to  the  world  without. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 


THE  TRANCE  CONTINUED 

Immediately  upon  quitting  Leveson  House,  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon  repaired  to  Carlton  Palace  and  sought  an 
interview  with  Venetia.  Lady  Sackville  at  once  received 
the  baronet  in  the  breakfast-parlour  where  she  was  seated 
at  the  time;  and,  pointing  toward  a  newspaper  which  lay 
upon  the  table,  she  said,  My  dear  friend,  it  was  with  the 
sincerest  sorrow  that  I  read  the  half-dozen  Unes  in  that 
journal  which  mention  the  fire  at  your  house  last  night.  It 
is,  however,  a  subject  of  congratulation  that  you  are  safe. 
But  you  look  dreadfully  careworn  and  haggard  —  " 

No  wonder,  Venetia,"  observed  the  baronet,  "  after  all 
that  I  have  gone  through." 

He  then  sat  down  and  gave  her  an  account  of  everything 
that  had  transpired  within  the  last  two  days.  Commencing 
his  narrative  from  the  moment  when  he  parted  with  Louisa 
Stanley  at  Dartford,  he  proceeded  to  describe  the  perilous 
adventures  of  Shooter's  Hill.  He  told  Venetia  how  cir- 
cumstances had  thrown  Ariadne  in  his  way,  how  she  had 
saved  his  life  at  the  hut,  how  they  had  fled  together,  and 
how  he  had  given  her  an  asylum  at  his  own  house;  he 
then  explained  who  she  was,  and  in  confidence  revealed  to 
Lady  Sackville's  ear  those  particulars  relative  to  Theodore 
and  his  sister  which  have  been  made  known  to  the  reader 
in  a  previous  chapter.  Lastly,  he  narrated  the  circum- 
stances of  the  young  girl's  abduction  to  the  Marquis  of 
Leveson's  house,  and  concluded  with  a  description  of  her 
death. 

At  first,  when  he  began  to  speak  of  Ariadne,  Sir  Douglas 
observed  that  Venetia's  beauteous  eyes  glittered  somewhat 
with  a  jealous  uneasiness;  and  naturally  flattered  by  this 

453 


454  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


proof  that  he  was  very  far  from  being  an  object  of  indifference 
to  the  lovely  idol  of  fashion,  he  cautiously  at  stained  from 
uttering  a  word  calculated  to  show  that  Ariadne  had  made 
the  slightest  impression  of  a  tender  character  upon  his 
heart.  He  spoke  of  her  in  a  tone  of  compassionate  friendship, 
and  speedily  observed  that  a  gleam  of  satisfaction  stole  over 
the  features  of  Lady  Sackville.  But  when  he  came  to  that 
portion  of  his  narrative  which  described  Ariadne's  death,  — 
or,  rather,  her  supposed  death,  —  when  indeed  he  explained 
how  the  sensual  brutality  of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  had 
been  the  cause  of  the  lamentable  catastrophe,  Venetia's 
splendid  countenance  coloured  with  indignation,  and  she 
murmured  between  her  set  teeth,  "  That  destestable  Mar- 
quis of  Leveson!  Will  the  day  of  retribution  never  dawn 
for  him?  " 

And  now,  my  dear  Venetia,"  resumed  the  baronet, 

I  will  explain  to  you  in  a  few  words  the  object  of  my 
visit.  Indeed  you  must  grant  me  a  boon  this  moment, 
you  must  do  me  a  service  without  delay  —  " 

You  know,  my  dear  Douglas,"  she  responded,  with  a 
peculiar  look  of  mingled  tenderness  and  significancy,  that 
there  is  nothing  you  can  demand  of  me  which  I  am  not 
prepared  to  grant.  Tell  me,  therefore,  how  I  can  serve  you. 
But  I  think  I  can  already  conjecture:  is  it  not  the  pardon 
of  Theodore  Varian  that  you  require?  " 

"  It  is,  dearest  Venetia,  it  is,"  replied  the  baronet. 

Lady  Sackville  spoke  not  another  word,  but  rising  from 
her  seat,  quitted  the  room.  She  remained  absent  for  about 
an  hour,  at  the  expiration  of  which  interval  she  returned; 
and  by  the  smile  of  satisfaction  that  played  upon  her  charm- 
ing lips.  Sir  Douglas  saw  that  she  had  succeeded. 

"  This  is  the  pardon  —  the  full,  free,  unconditional  par- 
don of  Theodore  Varian,"  she  observed,  handing  the  baronet 
a  paper.  Fortunately  the  Secretary  of  State  was  with 
his  Royal  Highness  at  the  moment,  and  therefore  the 
document  is  duly  countersigned.  I  explained  to  them  both 
a  sufficiency  of  the  particulars  connected  with  the  case  of 
Theodore  Varian  to  prove  that  he  was  as  much  sinned  against 
by  his  late  master  Emmerson,  as  sinning;  and  I  likewise 
told  them  in  confidence  a  little  of  his  poor  sister's  history. 
The  Minister  therefore  made  not  the  slightest  objection  to 
grant  the  pardon;  and  as  for  his  Royal  Highness,"  added 


THE  TRANCE  CONTINUED  455 


Venetia,  proudly,  of  course  he  was  instantaneously  pre- 
pared to  grant  my  demand." 

"  Ten  thousand  thanks,  dear  Venetia,  for  this  prompt 
kindness  on  your  part,"  exclaimed  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon, 
glancing  his  eye  over  the  paper  ere  he  consigned  it  to  his 
pocket.  And  now  you  will  excuse  me  for  leaving  you 
abruptly,  inasmuch  as  I  am  anxious  to  transmit  this  pardon 
to  Theodore  Varian,  together  with  the  letter  containing  the 
sad  intelligence  of  his  sister's  death." 

"  And  do  you  propose,"  asked  Venetia,  "  to  veil  from 
Mr.  Varian  the  infamy  of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  toward 
his  sister?  " 

Of  what  avail,  Venetia,  will  it  be  to  augment  the 
sorrows  of  this  already  too  unfortunate  young  man?  Besides, 
I  myself  have  not  been  immaculate  enough  in  my  hfe  to 
feel  justified  in  becoming  the  accuser  of  others;  but  on  the 
other  hand  I  have  so  many  faults  of  my  own  to  screen  that 
I  consider  it  but  just  to  throw  a  veil  if  possible  over  the 
faults  of  my  friends  or  acquaintances." 

"  Well,  be  it  so,  Douglas,"  observed  Venetia.  "  And  now 
depart  to  execute  your  purpose  with  regard  to  Varian;  I 
will  not  detain  you  a  minute  longer.  But  remember," 
she  added,  with  a  meaning  look, I  shall  always  be  dehghted 
and  happy  to  see  you." 

Ah!  Venetia,  do  not  fancy  that  I  am  not  hkewise  too 
happy  to  find  myself  in  your  society."  Then,  hastily  rais- 
ing her  hand  to  his  lips,  he  hurried  from  the  room. 

Returning  to  the  hotel  where  he  had  taken  up  his  quarters, 
he  sat  down  and  penned  a  letter  to  Theodore  Varian.  In 
this  epistle  he  broke  to  the  young  brother  as  gently  as  he 
could  the  intelligence  of  the  sister's  death,  which  he  attrib- 
uted to  the  shock  produced  by  the  conflagration  upon  the 
previously  attenuated  mind  of  the  young  girl.  This  letter, 
accompanied  by  the  pardon.  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  at 
once  sent  off  by  a  courier  to  Dover,  in  the  hope  that  the 
messenger  might  overtake  Varian  previous  to  his  embarka- 
tion for  France;  but  if  not,  the  courier  was  instructed  to 
lose  no  time  in  following  the  young  man  to  the  Continent. 
Having  adopted  these  measures.  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon 
turned  his  attention  to  his  own  affairs;  for  he  felt  for  the 
first  time  in  his  hfe  the  necessity  of  expeUing  thought  by 
means  of  bustle  and  occupation.    Indeed,  the  image  of 


456  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


Ariadne  was  uppermost  in  his  mind;  and  frequently, 
frequently  did  he  find  himself  giving  way  to  the  gloomiest 
reflections,  and  pondering  upon  her  whom  he  had  known 
but  for  so  short  a  time  and  who  had  been  so  rudely  and 
suddenly  snatched  away  from  him,  as  he  thought,  for  ever. 

In  the  evening  Doctor  Copperas  called  at  the  hotel,  and 
on  being  shown  to  the  room  where  the  baronet  was  sitting 
alone  after  dinner,  the  physician  expressed  himself  much 
shocked  at  the  tidings  he  had  received  relative  to  the  death 
of  his  fair  patient. 

One  or  two  circumstances  have  rather  astonished  me 
in  this  matter,"  observed  the  doctor,  as  he  sat  down  to 
take  a  glass  of  wine  with  the  baronet:  one  is  that  the 
poor  girl  should  have  been  sent  to  find  an  asylum  at  the 
house  of  the  Marquis  of  Leveson,  who  is  an  unmarried  man, 
or  rather  a  widower;  and  the  second  is  that  I,  being  the 
medical  attendant  of  the  young  lady,  was  not  called  in  this 
morning  when  she  was  found  to  be  dying.  At  all  events, 
if  his  lordship  had  not  chosen  to  send  for  me,  he  would  at 
all  events  have  acted  prudently  in  summoning  that  truly 
wonderful  man,  —  the  greatest  ornament  of  his  profession,  — 
I  mean  Doctor  Thurston." 

"  My  good  friend,"  returned  the  baronet,  "  your  two 
objections  are  very  easily  met.  In  the  fiirst  place,  it  was 
necessary  to  consign  the  young  girl  to  the  care  of  some 
kind-hearted  lady;  and  being  acquainted  with  Lady  Ernes- 
tina  Dysart,  I  thought  it  best  to  send  the  poor  creature  to 
her.  Secondly,  the  Marquis  of  Leveson  was  unaware  that 
you  were  the  medical  attendant  —  " 

"  Enough,  enough!  "  ejaculated  Doctor  Copperas;  "  I 
am  perfectly  satisfied  with  what  you  have  said,  my  dear 
Sir  Douglas.  But  perhaps  you  will  permit  me  to  observe 
that  in  these  cases  of  rapid  sinking  and  speedy  dissolution 
arising  from  fright,  there  are  so  many  curious  phases  and 
phenomena  that  they  never  ought  to  be  lost  sight  of  by 
the  medical  man  in  attendance  at  the  time.  Now  I  feel 
perfectly  convinced  that  if  that  very  remarkable  authority, 
Doctor  Thurston,  had  been  called  in  on  this  occasion,  he 
would  have  given  to  the  world  a  most  valuable  treatise 
upon  the  subject." 

Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  was  in  no  humour  to  converse 
with  so  tedious  a  personage  as  Doctor  Copperas.  He  accord- 


THE  TRANCE  CONTINUED  457 


ingly  fell  into  a  deep  abstraction,  and  the  physician,  having 
dilated  for  about  twenty  minutes  upon  the  merits  of  Doctor 
Thurston  as  a  medical  practitioner,  and  the  learning  of 
Doctor  Thurston  as  a  medical  authority,  took  his  leave. 

A  couple  of  days  passed,  and  the  baronet's  confidential 
domestic  James  returned  from  Dover.  He  had  succeeded 
in  finding  Theodore  Varian,  and  had  deHvered  to  him  the 
messages  and  the  purse  of  money  sent  by  the  baronet,  whose 
advice  it  appeared  the  young  man  had  promptly  followed 
by  repairing  to  Calais.  Indeed,  James  had  seen  him  embark 
on  board  the  hoy;  and  thus  was  it  clear  that  he  had  quitted 
England  ere  being  overtaken  by  the  messenger  who  bore 
his  pardon. 

The  next  day  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  proceeded  to 
Leveson  House  to  inquire  how  the  preparations  proceeded 
for  Ariadne's  funeral.  The  marquis  was  not  at  home  at 
the  time,  and  Lady  Ernestina  Dysart,  who  detested  the 
baronet  ever  since  his  interference  in  the  affair  of  Louisa 
Stanley,  affected  to  be  retained  in  her  own  room  by  indis- 
position. The  housekeeper  accordingly  took  upon  herself 
to  answer  the  baronet's  queries,  and  she  assured  him  that 
the  most  satisfactory  preparations  were  being  made.  Sir 
Douglas  Huntingdon  desired  the  woman  to  conduct  him 
to  the  chamber  where  Ariadne  lay;  for  he  experienced  an 
irresistible  longing  to  behold  once  more  in  death  that  sweet 
countenance  which  had  made  so  deep  an  impression  upon 
him  in  life.  The  housekeeper  accordingly  proceeded  to 
what  was  believed  to  be  the  chamber  of  death;  and  the 
moment  the  baronet  crossed  the  threshold  a  feehng  of 
indescribable  awe  mingled  with  the  profound  mournfulness 
which  already  filled  his  heart. 

But  when  he  beheld  that  waxlike  countenance  on  which 
there  was  nothing  of  the  ghastliness  or  loathsomeness  of 
death,  when  he  beheld  it  fresh  and  damask-Uke  as  it  was  in 
life,  —  the  only  appearance  of  death  being  the  utter  absence 
of  all  vital  tint,  —  he  could  not  help  exclaiming,  Good 
heavens!  surely  she  does  but  sleep." 

The  housekeeper  shook  her  head  with  an  assumed  melan- 
choly, as  she  observed  in  a  low  tone,  When  no  positive 
disease  or  previous  illness  is  the  cause  of  death,  the  corpse 
frequently  remains  thus  fresh  and  well  preserved." 

''Death!    Is  this  indeed  death?    Can  it  be  death?" 


458 


THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


mused  the  baronet,  in  a  low  tone  to  himself,  as  he  stood 
gazing  down  upon  that  countenance  so  soft  in  its  very 
rigidity,  so  sweet  in  its  immovability,  so  full  of  ineffable 
expression  in  its  utter  stillness.  "  If  this  be  death,  then 
death  is  not  terrible;  no,  'tis  nothing  but  a  slumber  a  little 
more  profound  than  that  into  which  we  sink  at  night,  only, 
only,  to  this  slumber  here  there  is  no  awakening.  This  is 
the  eternal  night  that  on  earth  hath  no  dawn." 

While  thus  musing,  in  a  low  tone,  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon 
had  bent  over  the  form  of  the  young  girl  who  lay  stretched 
upon  that  couch,  and  a  tear  dropped  from  his  eyelash  upon 
her  cheek.  With  his  cambric  handkerchief  he  gently  wiped 
it  away,  murmuring  between  his  hps,  Poor  Ariadne, 
poor  Ariadne!  if  you  had  hved,  the  feehng  which  you  had 
already  inspired  and  which  I  experience  now  in  my  soul 
would  have  expanded  into  the  strongest  and  purest  love, 
and  you  should  have  been  my  ^^ife." 

Then,  stooping  down,  he  gently  kissed  her  alabaster  fore- 
head, and,  turning  abruptly  away,  hurried  from  the  room, 
followed  by  the  housekeeper. 

If  anybody  a  few  days  previously  had  told  Sir  Douglas 
Huntingdon  that  within  a  week  he  was  destined  to  be  moved 
by  such  feelings  as  these,  destined  to  experience  the  influence 
of  such  melting,  chastening,  and  reforming  thoughts  trooping 
through  his  mind,  he  would  have  ridiculed  the  prophecy 
and  laughed  at  the  prophet.  But  no  man  can  say  how  soon 
the  sentiment  of  love  may  animate  his  breast,  nor  how 
quickly  it  may  enthrone  itself  in  the  sanctuary  of  the 
heart. 

It  was  now  the  afternoon  of  the  fourth  day  of  Ariadne's 
supposed  death;  and  during  this  period  a  profound  stupor 
had  entranced  her  thoughts  at  such  frequent  and  for  such 
intervals  that  her  soul,  rent  with  a  million  tortures  when 
awake,  was  thus  refreshed  and  invigorated  as  it  were  by 
those  periods  when  its  agonies  were  numbed  in  s^mcope 
and  its  thoughts  steeped  in  obU\don.  But  to  describe  the 
reflections  and  the  terrors  which  she  experienced  when 
awake  would  be  to  recapitulate  that  delineation  of  the 
feehngs  which  we  have  previously  attempted.  We  may, 
however,  observe  that  occasionally  did  a  gleam  of  hope 
penetrate  through  the  murky  clouds  that  girt  her  soul,  — 
a  hope  that  she  might  yet  be  enabled  to  shake  off  the  tram- 


THE  TRANCE  CONTINUED  459 


mels  of  this  tremendous  spell  which  was  upon  her  and 
give  evidence  of  her  vitality  before  being  consigned  to  the 
coffin  and  buried  ahve. 

She  was  awake,  and  she  was  giving  way  to  this  hope  at 
the  moment  when  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  paid  that  visit 
which  has  just  been  alluded  to.  She  immediately  recognized 
his  voice  as  he  stood  speaking  musingly  by  the  side  of  the 
couch;  and  with  that  keenness  of  sense  which  has  previously 
been  mentioned,  she  could  hear  as  plainly  all  that  he  said 
as  if  he  were  speaking  in  a  much  louder  tone,  whereas  the 
housekeeper  who  stood  close  by  could  not  catch  the  meaning 
of  his  words.  And  by  a  sort  of  mesmeric  influence,  also, 
did  Ariadne  become  aware  that  he  was  gazing  down  upon 
her.  Yes,  and  it  seemed  as  if  through  her  closed  eyelids 
she  could  even  observe  the  nature  of  that  look,  so  full  of  a 
mournful  tenderness;  and  then  ineffable  feehngs  sprang  up 
in  her  heart,  and  when  she  heard  him  murmur  those  words 
avowing  his  love  and  deploring  that  she  had  not  lived  to 
become  his  wife,  the  poor  girl  felt  for  a  moment  as  if  she 
were  being  suddenly  gifted  with  the  power  to  cast  off  the 
spell  of  the  trance,  fling  her  arms  around  his  neck,  weep 
upon  his  breast,  and  prove  that  she  was  ahve.  That  was 
a  moment,  a  single  moment  of  beatific  feeling  for  the  unfor- 
tunate Ariadne;  but  the  darkest,  deepest,  blackest  despair 
suddenly  seized  upon  her  soul  as  she  felt  herself  still  tied 
down  to  that  couch,  still  enchained  in  motionless  rigidity, 
still  cold  and  hfeless  as  marble  in  body,  though  with  a  mind 
that  was  every  instant  flaming  up  with  the  accumulated 
violence  of  a  thousand  volcanoes. 

Then  she  felt  the  tear-drop  upon  her  cheek.  Heavens! 
it  seemed  to  sink  down  into  her  very  heart.  Oh,  that  tear, 
that  tear,  it  was  a  pledge  of  love  —  Good  God !  what 
mockery  for  her  to  dream  of  such  bhss  as  that  which  is 
concentrated  in  the  word  love! 

Deeper,  yes,  deeper,  deeper  down  into  the  lowest  abyss 
of  despair  was  she  plunged,  as  all  hope  abandoned  her. 
Then  she  felt  the  tear  wiped  away  from  her  face;  then  the 
kiss  was  imprinted  upon  her  brow,  and  then  there  were 
sounds  of  hurried  retreating  steps,  and  the  door  closed 
again,  and  she  was  once  more  alone.  Yes,  and  once  more 
did  she  relapse  into  that  stupor  which  gave  her  mental 
energies  the  means  and  the  leisure  to  repose  and  regain 


460  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


their  strength  in  order  to  put  forth  their  excruciating  vitaHty 
again. 

When  she  next  awoke  she  became  aware  that  there  was 
a  candle  or  a  lamp  in  the  room.  Through  her  closed  eyelids 
could  she  distinguish  where  it  was;  and  then  she  heard 
several  heavy  feet  moving  about  the  chamber,  though  with 
an  evident  endeavour  that  their  tread  should  be  as  Ught  as 
possible.  A  horrible  suspicion  sprang  up  in  the  poor  girl's 
mind;  and  it  was  almost  immediately  confirmed  by  other 
sounds  which  struck  upon  her  ears.  These  sounds  were 
those  of  wood  coming  in  contact  with  wood,  one  thing 
being  lifted  upon  another;  and  then  she  knew  that  the 
undertaker's  men  were  in  the  room  placing  the  shell  upon 
the  trestles. 

It  instantaneously  struck  her  that  if  ever  the  excruciation 
of  her  mental  agonies  should  become  sufficiently  keen  to 
inspire  her  physical  being  with  new  fife,  this  must  be  the 
moment.  If  the  asphyxia  should  now  prove  stronger  than 
that  anguish  which  was  torturing  her  soul  to  such  an  extent 
as  apparently  to  render  it  capable  of  inspiring  marble  itself 
with  motion,  then  in  that  case  did  it  seem  as  if  all  hope 
might  be  really  abandoned.  She  felt  her  mind  struggfing 
within,  or,  rather,  she  made  it  struggle  with  all  the  violence 
of  desperation  to  force  it,  as  it  were,  to  give  vent  to  its 
feelings  in  any  one  of  the  numerous  evidences  of  fife,  such 
as  a  shudder,  a  shriek,  a  stretching  forth  of  the  arms,  a 
turning  of  the  head,  an  opening  of  the  eyefids,  or  even  a 
quivering  of  the  lips.  But  no,  nothing  of  all  this  could  she 
accompfish.  Her  mind  was  imprisoned  in  a  form  rigid  and 
impracticable  as  marble;  and  it  seemed  to  her  as  if  she 
herself  were  vainly  struggling  for  emancipation  from  the 
interior  of  a  stone  sepulchre  in  which,  like  a  Roman  vestal 
of  ancient  times,  she  was  walled  up. 

But  we  cannot  describe  the  full  horror  of  her  thoughts  on 
this  head;  we  must  leave  the  reader  much  to  imagine  and 
depict  unto  himself.  For  now  the  moment,  the  dread 
moment  had  come  when  Ariadne  was  to  be  placed  in  the 
shell.  It  was  from  habit  that  the  undertaker  and  his  men 
trod  as  gently  as  possible  in  the  room,  from  habit  that  they 
spoke  in  undertones  suited  to  the  chamber  of  death,  from 
habit  that  they  laid  their  hands  upon  her  gently  and  deli- 
cately.   It  was  habit  all,  for  in  their  nature  they  were  no 


THE  TRANCE  CONTINUED  461 


more  susceptible  of  sympathy  than  other  men.  On  the 
contrary,  from  being  in  the  frequent  companionship  of  the 
dead,  they  knew  neither  awe  nor  pity.  Indeed,  their  feeUngs 
were  much  blunted  and  their  hearts  much  brutahzed  by 
their  avocation;  and  if  a  proof  of  this  were  wanting,  it  might 
have  been  found  in  the  fact  that  the  housekeeper,  knowing 
their  predilection,  at  this  moment  entered  the  room  with  a 
tray  containing  a  bottle  of  spirits  and  several  glasses.  There- 
upon the  undertaker  and  his  men  turned  away  from  the 
couch,  and  approached  the  toilet-table  where  the  house- 
keeper deposited  the  tray. 

"  Now,  ma'am,  will  you  jine  in?  "  asked  Mr.  Stimson,  as 
he  filled  all  the  glasses  around. 

"  Well,  I'll  just  take  a  leetle  drop,  so  as  not  to  seem 
unfriendly,"  said  the  housekeeper. 

"  That's  right,  ma'am.  And  now,"  continued  Stimson, 
raising  a  brimming  glass  to  his  lips,  "  here's  your  wery  good 
health,  ma'am,  and  here's  his  lordship's  health,  too,  and 
wishing  us  all  good  luck,"  with  which  benediction  the  under- 
taker screwed  up  his  eyes,  as  if  to  shut  out  the  fume  of  the 
liquor  as  he  tossed  it  down  his  throat. 

Having  refreshed  themselves  with  a  dram,  the  servitors 
of  death  returned  to  the  couch,  and  once  more  resumed 
their  hold  upon  Ariadne.  Not  the  concentrated  anguish  of 
ten  thousand  racks,  not  the  essence  powerfully  condensed 
of  all  the  most  refined  excruciations  of  the  Inquisition,  can 
convey  any  adequate  idea  of  the  agony  of  agonies  which 
the  young  girl  now  endured.  All  such  ideas  as  the  coiling 
of  fiery  serpents  around  the  form,  of  burning  ahve  in  can- 
descent flames,  of  tearing  off  the  scalp  and  dropping  boiling 
oil  upon  the  brain  laid  bare,  of  flaying  alive  and  searing 
the  excoriated  flesh  with  red-hot  iron,  of  passing  red-hot 
needles  through  the  eyes,  all  such  ideas  as  these,  we  say, 
fell  incomparably  short  of  the  inimitable  agony  endured 
by  the  poor  girl  as  the  undertaker  and  his  men  lifted  her  from 
the  bed  and  put  her  into  the  narrow  shell. 

This  being  done,  the  men  retraced  their  way  to  the  toilet- 
table,  and  regaled  themselves  with  another  dram. 

"  I  never  did  see  a  corpse  keep  so  fresh,"  observed  Stim- 
son. "  There's  no  oozing  out  of  the  mouth,  no  discolouring 
under  the  eyes,  not  even  any  particular  blueness  of  the  nails. 
And  then,  too,  she  felt  as  limp  and  supple  as  if  only  in  a  fit." 


462  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


"  But  I  shouldn't  like  to  be  only  half  as  dead  for  all  that/* 
said  one  of  the  men.  "  Poor  thing,"  he  continued,  with 
the  mechanical  utterance  of  the  sympathetic  ejaculation, 

she'll  be  discoloured  and  blue  enough  in  a  few  days,  and 
she'll  get  stark  and  stiff  enough,  too,  before  she's  put  into 
her  coffin  and  screwed  down." 

Screwed  down!  Good  heavens,  what  dreadful  words, 
overwhelming  as  a  torrent,  devouring  as  a  conflagration, 
crushing  as  a  thunderbolt!  Life  appeared  now  to  be  really 
ebbing  away  from  the  statue-like  form  of  Ariadne  Varian; 
and  oh,  how  she  wished  that  she  might  be  really  dying,  that 
her  spirit  might  be  indeed  passing,  so  that  she  could  avoid 
that  crowning  horror,  that  transcendent  catastrophe,  — 
being  buried  alive!  Again  did  a  stupor  come  over  her, 
again  were  her  senses  wrapped  in  obhvion. 

The  undertaker  and  his  men  remained  in  the  room  until 
they  had  emptied  the  bottle  of  spirits,  and  then  they  took 
their  leave  of  the  housekeeper  and  their  departure  from  the 
mansion. 

Presently  —  she  could  not  tell  how  long  after  the  stupor 
had  fallen  upon  her  —  a  roseate  radiance  appeared  to  be 
shining  all  around  Ariadne.  She  was  no  longer  in  the  shell, 
no  longer  wrapped  in  the  garments  of  the  grave,  no  longer 
laid  out  as  a  corpse.  She  felt  as  if  she  had  been  wafted  into 
some  other  sphere,  and  a  strain  of  sweet  celestial  music 
came  floating  upon  her  ears.  Then,  as  those  silver  octaves 
made  the  air  melodious,  she  fancied  that  she  beheld  angel 
shapes  hovering  before  her  eyes,  shapes  of  seraphs  and  of 
sylphs,  with  azure  garments  and  white  wings.  The  music 
swelled  into  the  divinest  symphony,  exultant  throughout 
the  vast  regions  of  space;  and  it  seemed  to  the  maiden 
that  she  was  wafted  quick  and  unimpeded,  but  by  some 
invisible  power,  through  the  starry  firmament,  mingling 
with  aerial  beings  of  indescribable  beauty.  An  ineffable 
pleasure  pervaded  her  soul  as  she  called  to  mind  all  the 
horrors  from  which  she  had  just  escaped;  for  the  barrier 
between  life  and  death  seemed  to  be  indeed  passed  over, 
and  herself  emancipated  from  the  trammels  of  earth  and 
now  soaring  in  heaven.  Presently  a  form  of  angelic  loveli- 
ness and  radiant  with  the  sunniest  smiles  came  floating 
through  the  roseate  atmosphere,  —  a  female  form  clad  in 
streaming  robes  of  azure  and  of  gold,  arranged  in  alternate 


THE  TRANCE  CONTINUED  463 


foldings  and  spangled  with  countless  gems.  The  long  yellow 
hair  floated  like  a  beaming  meteor,  diffusing  an  enhanced 
glory  all  around.  But  nothing  could  equal  the  celestial 
benignity  and  seraphic  joy  that  mingled  in  that  beauteous 
countenance;  so  that  under  this  angeUc  figuration  Ariadne 
recollected  not  immediately  the  features  of  her  mother, 
her  long  dead  mother.  Now  indeed  she  knew  that  she  was 
in  heaven;  and  extending  her  arms  toward  the  advancing 
shape,  she  anticipated  the  next  moment  to  be  clasped  to  its 
bosom,  when  all  in  an  instant  the  sweet  and  ecstatic  thoughts 
fining  her  soul  were  turned  into  horror  and  dismay,  the  angel 
shape  vanished  from  her  view,  utter  darkness  suddenly 
entombed  her,  and  down,  down  she  sank  as  if  into  an  un- 
fathomable abyss! 

Down,  down  she  kept  descending;  down,  down  into  the 
blackest  darkness,  where  the  only  change  was  that  made 
by  hideous  shapes  blacker  than  the  blackness,  darker  than 
the  darkness  itself.  Yes,  all  was  confusion  and  whirl  in  her 
brain,  a  series  and  a  change  of  mental  agony.  Now,  all  of 
a  sudden,  a  tremendous  fight  appeared;  and  in  the  distance 
were  seen  the  inextinguishable  but  unconsuming  fires  of 
hell.  No  nearer,  however,  to  them  did  she  approach,  but 
kept  falfing  down,  down,  far  beyond  the  influence  of  the 
molten  flames  that  filled  the  vast  and  blazing  prison  of 
Satan's  kingdom.  But  as  her  eyes  remained  fixed  upon 
that  region  of  fire,  she  saw  that  it  broke  into  the  shape  of 
immense  buildings,  vast  palaces,  tremendous  domes,  and 
colossal  pillars,  all  made  of  the  fiving  flame  and  exhafing 
the  red  atmosphere  which  hung  like  a  lurid  cloud  above  it. 
Still  also  as  she  gazed,  she  observed  the  background  of 
that  vast  city  of  Satan,  —  a  background  forming  hills 
and  mountains,  some  covered  with  forests,  others  merely 
dotted  with  groups  of  trees,  but  all  wrought,  as  it  were,  out 
of  the  lurid,  opaque  fire.  Still  keener  and  keener  grew  the 
maiden's  power  of  vision.  She  now  beheld  the  windows 
of  all  the  houses,  mansions,  and  palaces  in  that  city  of  hell, 
and  she  saw  that  those  windows  were  defended  by  immense 
bars  of  fire.  But  now  the  entire  city  seemed  to  be  made  of 
red-hot  iron,  every  feature  of  the  place  of  one  colour,  every- 
thing formed  of  one  material.  And  through  those  bars  she 
beheld  myriads  of  shadowy  forms,  all  red  and  glowing  as 
if  they  themselves  were  penetrated  with  fire,  or  heated, 


464  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


as  it  were,  to  a  candescent  and  almost  transparent  state. 
Keener  grew  her  vision  still,  and  she  saw  more.  She  beheld 
ineffable  anguish  depicted  on  every  countenance,  an  anguish 
such  as  no  hving  language  can  describe.  In  the  palaces 
she  beheld  the  shapes  of  those  who  had  once  been  the  kings 
and  queens  of  the  earth;  but  their  crowns  were  now  of  red- 
hot  iron,  fastened  with  red-hot  nails  upon  their  burning  but 
unconsuming  heads.  Their  sceptres  had  changed  into 
fiery  serpents,  their  orbs  into  scorpions  of  flame.  The 
purple,  the  scarlet,  and  the  ermine  robes  that  decorated 
them  on  earth  were  succeeded  by  a  flowing  vesture  of  flame; 
and  if  in  any  region  of  hell  the  fire  was  hotter  and  the  torture 
more  agonizing  than  elsewhere,  then  was  this  supremacy 
of  all  excruciations  to  be  found  in  these  palaces  of  the 
kings  and  queens.  In  the  great  mansions  were  the  shades 
of  those  who  had  been  prelates  and  church  dignitaries  upon 
earth,  and  who,  having  made  rehgion  a  means  to  heap  up 
wealth  and  honours  for  their  own  aggrandizement,  were 
now  deservedly  enduring  retribution  in  the  ebbless  and 
eternal  waves  of  flame  that  swept  through  the  mansions  of 
red-hot  iron.  And  in  other  mansions  were  the  lords  and 
those  who  had  been  great  ones  upon  earth,  but  who,  having 
made  earth  a  heaven  for  themselves  and  a  hell  for  the 
masses  of  their  fellow  creatures,  were  now  enduring  the 
real  hell  of  the  other  world. 

But  gradually  all  this  tremendous  spectacle  began  to  fade 
away  from  Ariadne's  view;  and  still  she  appeared  to  be 
falUng  down  with  the  velocity  of  a  flash  of  lightning,  until 
all  was  dark  once  more.  Then  gradually  she  awoke  to  the 
consciousness  that  she  had  been  passing  through  the  phases 
of  a  dream,  wherein  she  had  beholden  both  heaven  and  hell. 

Then  where  was  she?  Were  these  thoughts,  these  harrow- 
ing thoughts  that  poured  back  into  her  memory,  laden  with 
horrible  reminiscences,  were  all  these  a  dream  likewise? 
Was  it  a  dream  that  she  had  been  in  a  trance,  that  she  had 
been  treated  as  one  dead,  and  that  preparations  were  made 
for  her  funeral?  Was  all  this  a  dream,  —  ah!  dared  she 
think  so?  But,  no;  great  God!  no,  it  was  not  a  dream! 
She  was  there,  in  utter  darkness,  unable  to  move,  pent  up 
in  the  narrowest  possible  space;  yes,  she  was  in  a  trance, 
and  she  was  in  her  shell ! 

Another  two  days  passed  away;  and  during  the  interval 


THE  TRANCE  CONTINUED  465 


very  brief  indeed  had  been  the  moments  of  consciousness 
endured  by  the  unfortunate  girl.  But  it  was  now  on  the 
sixth  evening  of  her  supposed  death,  and  while  she  was 
suffering  the  tortures  of  a  more  vivid  sensibiUty  than  she 
had  experienced  for  forty-eight  hours  past,  that  the  door 
of  the  chamber  was  opened,  and  again  did  the  undertaker 
and  three  or  four  of  his  men  enter  the  apartment.  They 
bore  something  with  them,  too,  something  heavy  and  also 
hollow,  something  that  knocked  against  the  woodwork  of 
the  doorway  as  they  brought  it  in,  something  ominous  and 
dread  to  think  of.  Yes,  just  Heaven!  it  was  the  damsel's 
coflan  that  they  had  brought. 

Her  coffin!  — -but  she  is  not  dead,  the  light  burns  in  her 
soul,  although  it  ceases  to  shine  forth  to  the  view  of  the 
world;  the  lamp  is  not  extinguished,  the  oil  of  Hfe  is  not 
exhausted.  Then  wherefore  seize  upon  her  now?  Where- 
fore carry  her  away  from  the  midst  of  the  world  to  which 
she  belongs,  to  consign  her  to  the  raw,  damp  sohtude  of 
the  grave?  Oh,  it  is  because  she  is  beUeved  to  be  dead, 
and  thus  as  a  corpse  she  is  to  be  treated.  Now  to  her  mind 
rush  the  many  things  she  has  heard  in  her  Ufe  relative  to 
people  being  buried  ahve,  of  coffins  being  opened  years  after 
the  interment,  and  the  wretched  inmates  being  found  to 
have  turned  on  their  sides  or  their  faces,  or  to  have  gnawed 
their  own  flesh  for  sustenance;  and  now,  just  Heaven!  was 
such  to  be  her  fate? 

Speaking  of  sustenance,  reminds  us  to  observe  that  though 
several  days  had  elapsed  since  food  had  passed  Ariadne's 
lips,  yet  that  she  experienced  neither  hunger  nor  thirst,  no, 
nor  yet  that  sinking  at  the  stomach  which  is  usually  felt 
through  want  of  nourishment.  All  vital  actions  of  the 
system  were  suspended  or  suppressed  in  a  physical  sense; 
the  body  seemed  to  be  dead,  all  its  wants  and  necessities 
dead  likewise,  and  yet  all  the  senses,  how  keenly  were  they 
alive ! 

Yes,  the  coffin  was  brought  in  and  deposited  upon  the 
floor.  The  undertaker  and  his  men  then  lifted  the  shell 
from  the  trestles,  and  placed  it  inside  the  coffin;  they  then 
raised  the  coffin  itself  upon  the  trestles,  leaving  the  lid 
loosely  lying  on  the  top.  Scarcely  was  this  done  when  the 
door  opened  again,  and  the  housekeeper  entered.  Ariadne 
knew  by  the  rattling  of  the  glasses  that  the  servitors  of 


466  THE  COURT  OF  LONDON 


death  were  about  to  regale  themselves  once  more  with 
spirits.  Such  was  the  case;  but  this  time  the  tray  was  not 
placed  upon  the  toilet  table,  nor  on  a  chair,  nor  on  the  bed, 
nor  yet  on  the  chest  of  drawers,  no,  nor  on  any  article  of 
furniture  in  the  chamber,  but  upon  the  coffin-lid  itself.  And 
then  the  undertaker  and  his  men,  together  with  the  house- 
keeper, all  stood  around  that  coffin  and  drank  the  spirits 
which  were  poured  out. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Stimson,  how  do  you  think  the  corpse  looks 
now?  "  asked  the  housekeeper. 

"  Unchanged  and  fresh  as  ever,  ma'am,"  was  the  response. 

I  never  did  see  such  a  beautiful  corpse  in  all  my  life.  We'll 
leave  the  coffin-lid  off  till  the  last  moment,  because  the  body's 
so  fresh.  If  we  screwed  it  down,  it  would  precious  soon  begin 
to  decompose." 

Decompose!  good  heavens,  to  talk  of  this  in  the  hearing 
of  one  who  was  not  yet  dead! 

"  Well,  now,  the  funeral's  for  the  day  after  to-morrow, 
at  eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,"  observed  the  housekeeper, 
"  and  Sir  Douglas  Huntingdon  has  told  me  that  he  means 
to  attend;  so  does  the  marquis,  out  of  respect  for  Sir 
Douglas." 

"  Well,"  replied  Stimson,  "  we  shall  have  two  mourning- 
coaches,  one  for  his  lordship  and  the  baronet,  and  t'other 
for  me  and  three  of  my  men,  to  look  like  mourners  and  make 
the  funeral  respectable.  I  always  choose  the  most  sorrow- 
ful-looking of  my  people  to  go  with  me  in  a  mourning-coach, 
and  it  has  a  wery  good  effect.  But  last  time,  —  that  was 
about  a  month  ago,  —  one  of  'em  tumbled  into  the  grave 
when  we  got  to  the  churchyard,  'cause  why  he  got  blazing 
drunk." 

"  Well,  we  mustn't  have  any  drunkenness  here,  Mr. 
Stimson,"  said  the  housekeeper,  in  an  authoritative  tone. 
"  The  marquis  would  be  in  a  frightful  way  if  you  didn't 
all  keep  perfectly  sober." 

Here  the  colloquy  ended,  the  liquor  was  disposed  of,  the 
party  of  death's  servitors,  together  with  the  housekeeper, 
retired,  and  Ariadne  was  now  alone. 

Alone  —  in  her  coffin! 


END  OF  VOLUME  VII. 


